Saithong Jamjai halts planting on 19 hectares over war-driven losses
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · May 9
Saithong Jamjai halts planting on 19 hectares over war-driven losses
12 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · May 9
In Suphan Buri, central Thailand, she says planting and harvesting would cost at least $33,000, while the rice may sell for only $22,000 in August.
Jamjai says soaring fuel, fertilizer, plastics and other input prices linked to the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran have made another sowing cycle uneconomic.
Her decision highlights how conflict-driven cost increases are squeezing Asian farmers and raising concerns about wider risks to regional production and the global food supply.
How does one Thai farmer’s choice reveal the extreme fragility of our globalized food system?
Could the current global food crisis finally accelerate a shift away from fossil fuel-dependent agriculture?
As a Mideast war threatens millions with hunger, what is the world’s emergency plan to secure food supplies?
Fertilizer Shock in Asia 2026: Planting Halts, Food Insecurity Set to Rise 24% Amid Global Supply Disruptions
Overview
As of May 9, 2026, farmers across Asia are facing an unprecedented crisis, with many forced to abandon their planting seasons due to soaring operational costs. In Thailand, Saithong Jamjai decided to halt planting on her 19 hectares of farmland because her projected costs of $33,000 far exceed expected grain sales of $22,000, making continued cultivation financially unsustainable. This situation is not unique to her; many farmers in the region are confronting similar dilemmas. The crisis highlights a wider problem gripping the agricultural sector, threatening both farmer livelihoods and regional food security.