Govt agrees on price guarantee for rice

The decision was reached during a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit with representatives of rice farmers, rice operators and representatives from the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry.
The first, paddy rice with humidity at 15 per cent, will be priced at Bt10,000 per tonne with an income guarantee of not more than 30 tonnes per household or not more than 40 rai.
The next is glutinous rice, guaranteed a price of Bt12,000 per tonne, for not more than 16 tonnes per household or not over 40 rai.
Jasmine rice has been guaranteed a price of Bt15,000, not exceeding 40 rai or 14 tonnes per household. 
Fragrant rice outside the area will be assured Bt14,000 per tonne, not more than 40 rai or not over 16 tonnes. 
Pathumthani fragrant rice has been guaranteed a price not  exceeding Bt11,000, not more than 40 rai or not more than 25 tonnes.
“We will start the operation by attending the meeting of the National Commission on Rice Policy [National Rice Policy Committee] to determine the time,” Jurin said on Saturday.
The preliminary budget will be discussed at a meeting of the Rice Committee and will be offered to rice farmers registered with the Department of Agricultural Extension. The rice market price will be determined by a subcommittee that will set the criteria and announce the reference price every 15 days. 
The parallel measures that will be implemented in production are reduction of production costs, management of fertilizers, medicines, harvest, promoting large agricultural systems or large plots, encouraging farmers to use good quality rice seeds and crop insurance, he said.
He added that the committee had also proposed cost saving measures in marketing, production, promotion of organic rice production and GAP rice or rice that has passed cultivation standards. They also proposed promotion of rice production for a specific market The long-term measure is to develop smart farms for farmers with focus on research on technology development and rice production innovation.
The meeting also proposed strategic improvements to Thai rice and expanding exports to new markets while maintaining old markets, he said.