BANGKOK - Thailand has announced a 27 billion baht ($811 million) package of measures to support farmers and crop prices, aiming to help offset pressures on the sector from rising costs.

Of the total, 22 billion baht will be an income guarantee for farmers, under which the government will pay the difference if crop prices are lower than reference prices set by the state, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana told a news conference on Monday.

The remaining 5 billion baht will for stabilising prices of rice, tapioca, and corn for animals, he said, noting the measures had been approved by the country's cabinet.

The measures will assist more than 5.66 million households in the agricultural sector, he added. ($1 = 33.31 baht)

(Reporting by Satawasin Staporncharnchai and Kitiphong Thaichareon; Writing by Orathai Sriring; Editing by David Holmes) ((orathai.sriring@tr.com;))