MPs to diffuse farmers' agony
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Government MPs have been assigned to diffuse negative sentiments among farmers, following the National Rice Policy Committee's decision to revise down the rice-pledging price from Bt15,000 to Bt12,000 per tonne.
Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said Friday that the MPs would explain to farmers in their constituencies on the necessary revision. They would also gather farmers' proposals on how the government can help. The proposals would be presented to the government next week, he said.
He noted that the government has considered supporting measures, primarily to help reduce the production cost and increase rice quality.
Farmers in key provinces plan to stage a protest in Bangkok. The rice-pledging price is cut, following criticisms that the scheme may cost over Bt100 billion in damage for each harvest year.
Loss in the 2011/2012 harvest year amounted to nearly Bt140 billion.
