14 July 2026

"Suen Ji" Jang is not giving up "Thai curry rice helps Thailand," just delaying the review of the model and price to be appropriate-all-round, reiterating the project's goal to take care of early-morning people and low-income people.

On July 14, 69, Suthamphanth, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, interviewed reporters at Government House on the Thai Rice Aid Program, confirming that the program has not been canceled but that it is delayed to review the pattern, prices and impact first.

The idea of the project is due to the intention of taking care of the cost of living of the people, especially early-mornings and low-income people, who rely on a single dish in their daily lives, after finding that although the price of oil is starting to fall, the price of food that goes up does not fall easily, especially curry rice, which is the main food of many working people.

However, the cost of curry rice is not only oil or raw materials, but also rent, cooking gas, wages, water, electricity, and transportation costs, many parts of which are beyond the direct supervision authority of the Ministry of Commerce, while the primary mission of the Ministry is to oversee the prices of raw materials and essential goods, not to adjust unreasonably according to the actual cost structure.

The Ministry of Commerce has been working on a Thai program to help Thailand since 1 April 2026 to take care of consumer products and raw materials. In the meantime, the Department of Internal Trade has been coordinating low-cost raw materials into restaurants, bazaars and area networks, a part that the Ministry can immediately implement.

For Thai Rice Helps Thai concept, originally based on a store base in Bangkok Bank's money bag system of over 2 lakh shops. If a shop voluntarily participates, the state may support a subsidy such as 3,000-5,000 baht to provide an alternative menu for about 40 baht without forcing stores across the country to sell the same price.

Mrs Supachi said that the price of 40 baht came from a typical russet price survey of 50 to 60 baht, so that it might be a real choice to help low income people. But when there is a wide range of opinion, it must be reviewed so that the measures do not distort market forces or disadvantage most shops that are not eligible.

Slowing down projects is not to retreat or stop thinking about helping people, but to look at the right pace and pattern. If the future cost of energy or living costs are depressed, projects like this can be a tool for small people.

"Many measures may not please all groups of people, but for people on construction sites, people far from the big market, or people looking for breakfast, a few baht difference per meal is important. The government still needs to see this group of people and continue to work to get to them," said Subhajee.