The Commerce Ministry yesterday kicked off a discount pork scheme to help reduce the cost of living for people nationwide.
Presiding over the launch of the 14th discount campaign by the ministry, Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said the latest scheme will sell fresh pork at 130 baht per kilogramme, a 20% discount from current retail prices in the markets.
Under the scheme, the government has made available a total of 667 distribution points nationwide, comprising 116 points in Bangkok and surrounding provinces, and 551 points in the other provinces, under cooperation between the Commerce Ministry, the Swine Raisers Association of Thailand, Charoen Pokphand Group and Betagro Group.
In Greater Bangkok, Mr Jurin said mobile grocery stores selling not only pork but also 17 kinds of vegetables at wholesale prices will be added into the latest scheme.
Consumers can check where the mobile grocery stores will go to sell low-priced pork from the website of the Department of Internal Trade or on the official LINE account @Mobilepanich, said Mr Jurin.
The latest discount scheme will run from Nov 24 to Dec 31, 2021.
According to Mr Jurin, authorities have pledged to stop intervening once vegetable and pork prices return to normal.
The ministry believes the latest scheme could help consumers save around 70-100 million baht.
On Nov 16, retail pork prices rose to 170-180 baht per kg from 150-160 baht because the ex-farm prices of live pigs were raised to 85-87 baht per kg, driven by higher oil prices and rising consumption after the government relaxed lockdown measures.
Pig production also fell because of lower productivity as a result of the summer season, causing the pigs to grow slowly and lose weight. The price of feed meal also rose.
