Thai PM urges public not to hoard food despite 72-hour emergency kit advice

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has urged residents not to panic or stockpile food, saying supplies remain sufficient despite a government agency's recommendation that households prepare 72-hour emergency kits.

Speaking on Thursday, Anutin said Thailand is a major agricultural producer with a well-established domestic food supply chain, Thai PBS World reported.

The country produces a wide range of agricultural products, including rice, fruit, vegetables, cassava and sugar, ensuring adequate food supplies, he said.

His remarks followed an advisory from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) early this week, which recommended that households prepare emergency bags containing enough essential items to last three days, according to The Nation.

Fruit vendors sell produce from carts on a Bangkok sidewalk. Photo by Unsplash

DDPM Director-General Nirat Pongsitthaworn explained that the kits were intended as a basic precaution against various emergencies, not a warning of an imminent crisis.

He said the recommendation was part of the department's longstanding campaign to promote disaster preparedness without alarming the public.

Thailand's National Security Council (NSC) also reassured residents that there was no need to hoard food despite growing international tensions, the Bangkok Post reported.

NSC Secretary-General Gen. Chaipruak Doungprapat said on Wednesday that the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives had confirmed rice production exceeded domestic consumption, while supplies of eggs and most other consumer goods remained adequate.

However, some products, including dairy goods and cooking seasonings, could face shortages. The ministry would develop measures to address potential supply imbalances, he said.

Chaipruak said households could maintain reasonable food reserves but should avoid excessive stockpiling because government agencies had sufficient supplies and contingency plans.

He also encouraged residents to rely on official government information.

His comments followed a meeting with government agencies and university academics to discuss Thailand's preparedness for emerging security threats.

Participants highlighted several overlapping international crises, including the Middle East conflict, the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border.

The NSC is preparing to establish a national operations center to monitor global developments and coordinate measures to protect Thailand's food and energy security.

The center would work with government agencies and academic institutions to strengthen the country's response to potential disruptions.

The DDPM and Public Relations Department have also been instructed to improve public communications and issue timely official warnings when necessary.

Meanwhile, the NSC is considering a proposal to establish a national food reserve as an additional measure to strengthen long-term preparedness.