Ministry of Finance, Deputy Prime Minister Pichai brings in state banks to help buy mangosteens and longans to sell the products that are flooding the market at the end of the year. Mr. Pichai Chunhavajira, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, held a meeting with executives of state banks to help purchase mangosteens and longans from the Department of Internal Trade, 25,000 kilograms of each type, an average of 6,000 kilograms per banknote, with Grade A mangosteens purchased at 30 baht per kilogram and longans at 15 baht per kilogram, to be sold at markets near banks or through various channels, with Thailand Post ready to provide delivery services to all banks. This year it is predicted that mangosteen production nationwide will be around 300,000 tons. At the moment, southern mangosteen production during July-September is around 140,000 tons. As for longans, the annual production is predicted to be 1.4 million tons. The northern region has already released 130,000 tons to the market. Therefore, w e must find ways to help fruit farmers. Moreover, exporting fruit to various countries is currently popular. Earning income from exporting vegetables and fruit is therefore an important opportunity for Thailand to generate income for the country in another way. Source: Thai News Agency