14/12/2012 (The Nation) - The National Farmers Council yesterday urged the Internal Trade Department to inspect palm-oil factories suspected of unfairly lowering the price of ripe palm.

"Because of their practice, the palm price is falling drastically," said the council's second vice president, Sittiporn Jariyapong.

He was among 10 representatives of palm farmers engaged in discussions with the PM's deputy secretary-general Suporn Atthawong.

With the ripe-palm price falling below Bt3 per kilo, thousands of farmers have staged simultaneous rallies.

In response, the government has agreed to peg the minimum price of ripe palm at Bt5 per kilo. The ongoing discussions focus on further details on how to find sustainable solutions for the palm farmers.

Sittiporn suggested the government set up a central stock of palm oil and promote the manufacturing of biodiesel.

"The government should consider using palm oil for fishing trawlers and farm trucks," he said.

Suporn promised to raise the proposal with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.