Department of Agricultural Extension urges policymakers to reform the country’s agricultural sector to cope with climate change and evolving market demands Thailand needs a political mindset on agricultural policies to cope with the impacts of the changing landscape of markets, climate change, advanced technology, and ageing population.

The need to rethink the way agriculture is handled comes as the Thai GDP expanded only 1.5 per cent year on year in the first quarter, mainly due to the ongoing US-China trade war and the impact of geopolitical conflicts on the global economy, according to the National Economic and Social Development Council.

The agricultural sector, which currently accounts for 9 per cent of the country’s GDP from the previous 30 per cent, dropped by 4.1 per cent year on year in the first quarter. El Nino’s impact on crop yield and rainfall was among the reasons behind the small agriculture GDP expansion, the Office of Agricultural Economics said.
The natural phenomenon, which brings reduced rainfall to Southeast Asia and southern Australia, has been declared over, although the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation has indicated that its lingering effects are leaving a significant mark. An increase in rainfall is likely due to the onset of La Nina later this year.