CHAI NAT - Fish raisers are appealing for help after prices for clown featherback fish, or pla krai, plunged to a 10-year low.
Sitthichai Limtrakul, a leading member of a clown featherback fish raisers group in Chai Nat, on Tuesday led members to lodge a complaint with the government's Dhamrongtham centre in this central province. They said they cannot stay in business at the current rate of return.
Middlemen are paying only 60 baht a kilo for pla krai, the lowest in 10 years and fish raisers are struggling to survive, said Mr Sitthichai.
They appealed for help from both public and private sectors. A suitable price would be 80 baht a kilo, instead of 60 baht, he said.
Pornpen Torprasert, director of the Damrongtham centre, said provincial authorities would be asked to financially support the setting up of pla krai processed food products, so fish raisers would not need to rely so much on middlemen.
Cooperation would also be sought from food shops and other businesses that use pla krai in their products. They would be asked to buy from local raisers at a fair price, Ms Pornpen said.
Prices for clown featherback fish or pla krai are at a 10-year low and the farmers are asking for help. (Photo by Chudate Seehawong)
