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The Commerce Ministry will open bidding for thousands of tonnes of rotten rice from government stockpiles this month for supply to the industrial sector.

The ministry will delay bidding for good-quality rice until March to prevent rice prices falling during |the current main crop-harvest season.

Duangporn Rodphaya, director-general to the Foreign Trade Department, said the ministry would release rotten rice to the |market at least one time this month.

After the auction, the ministry will set up a monitoring team to inspect rice being transferred from warehouses to non-food industries to ensure the rice is not used for consumption.

The rotten rice is expected to be used for ethanol, biomass, and non-food production.

Govt launches major push

to promote weaving sector

The Commerce Ministry has joined forces with the Tourism Authority to set up seven major “weaving street” routes around the country that are designed to get tourists to buy Thai weaving products.

Amparwon Pichalai, chief executive officer of the Support Arts and Craft International Centre of Thailand, said the seven routes would be established in the North, the South, the central region and Northeast so that local products are promoted internationally.

It is hoped the projects will help increase the value of the weaving textile and garments industry by about 10 per cent a year.

It is currently valued at Bt58 billion annually.

The seven weaving streets that will promote unique Thai weaving fabrics are routes from Lamphun to Chiang Rai; Sukhothai to Phrae; Phetchaburi to Uthai Thani; Nakhon Phanom to Khon Kaen; Nakhon Ratchasima to Ubon Ratchathani; Surat Thani to Krabi; and Songkhla to Narathiwat.