More than 3,000 palm growers staged a protest over falling palm-oil prices in front of Chumphon Provincial Hall yesterday.

12/12/2012 (The Nation) - Factories are now paying Bt2.5 per kilogram for palm oil. The farmers say it costs them Bt4 just to produce the oil.

Chumphon MPs and community leaders were among the protesters.

The farmers demanded that the government take urgent action to ensure that factories will pay at least Bt6 per kilogram. The farmers also pressed for lower fertiliser prices.

As for long-term measures, they called for the construction of storage facilities for crude palm oil in each palm-growing district. They also want the government to support the establishment of the Thai Palm Farmers Federation.

They vowed to prolong their protest if their demands are not met.

Chumphon Governor Phirasak Hinmueangkao is on a working trip to Indonesia, so the protest leaders met with his deputy.

In Trang, representatives of the provincial Palm Farmers Association demanded help from Deputy Trang Governor Sathorn Narawisut.

"The falling price has now seriously hurt palm farmers," said association chairman Chaiyarit Taiyuan.

Sathorn promised to coordinate with the Agriculture Ministry in delivering help to the palm producers.

According to Chaiyarit, there are about 300,000 rai (48,000 hectares) of palm plantations in Trang, which produce 800,000 tonnes of palm oil each year. The industry, which involves 35,000 members, is worth about Bt5 billion.

The protesters left Trang yesterday and planned to join palm farmers from Surat Thani in a rally in front of Government House.