By Thai Newsroom Reporters
OPERATORS OF PETROL PUMPS in all parts of the country are being encouraged by the government to literally put red onions on sale to help alleviate the pungent vegetable’s oversupply situation.
Internal Trade Department director-general Watanasak Sua-iam said over the weekend excessive amounts of red onions from Srisaket, which produces half the country’s total annual yield of about 150,000 tonnes, are reaching domestic markets for the time being.
In an effort to cope with the oversupply of red onions during the early part of year, the department chief advised PTT, Shell, Bangchak and PT petrol pumps in the provinces to buy some of the pungent vegetable, either freshly harvested or dried, and put them on sale in their compound.
An estimated 6,800 tonnes of red onions, grown in Yang Chumnoi, Rasi Salai and Kanthararom districts of the lower northeastern province, are currently flooding the domestic markets.
Srisaket is the country’s largest red onion producer, followed by the northern provinces of Chiang Mai, Payao and Uttaradit and the upper central province of Phetchabun.
In addition to petrol pumps, Watanasak said, discount stores throughout the country are recommended to buy the domestically-grown red onions and put them on sale as well.
Farmers may currently sell red onions for an average ex-farm price of 22 baht a kilo to merchants but their farm produce is now selling for a range of 62 to 69 baht a kilo at the domestic markets in and around Bangkok.
Whilst domestic consumption is yet to be extensively promoted at households and restaurants nationwide, red onions exported to Switzerland, South Korea and Singapore, among others, are more or less anticipated to quantitatively increase in the future.
CAPTION:
Top and Front Page: Some red onions. Photos: Thai Rath
Also read: ‘Debt Settlement Market’ kicks off in all provinces
Digital wallet scheme to be rolled out by May: PM
New Year festival spending tops 54 billion baht
Thailand, China to permanently waive visas for each other’s citizens from March: PM
Thai tourism needs to learn the lessons of history
Anti-graft agency asked to quizz senior officials over Thaksin case
Activists threaten to pile pressure over Thaksin staying at hospital
Enough evidence to file charges of taking bribes from berry pickers: DSI
2 Replies to “Red onions galore heading for petrol pumps”