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Thai Coconut Farmers Struggle as Prices Plummet

3/16/2026

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Story summary
  • They face record-low prices of two baht per coconut, six US cents, down from 20 baht before the pandemic.
  • Thai farmers Supon Haochareon and Lamduan Haochareon, ages 81 and 74, tend over 300 coconut trees in Samut Sakhon near Bangkok.
  • Wholesalers known as lhong set prices based on market conditions, creating a power imbalance with farmers.
  • The price squeeze eliminates profits and makes fertilizer unaffordable, threatening their livelihoods.