The Cabinet has approved the extension of the government's pledging scheme for off-season paddy rice to October 15th. Meanwhile, the Internal Trade Department expects to pledge an additional 300,000 tons of paddy rice during the extended period.

Internal Trade Department Director General Yanyong Puangraj said the Cabinet has approved the extension of the off-season paddy rice pledging program through October 15th. Over 300,000 tons of rice is expected to be pledged during the extended period.

He said the pledging quota will remain at 700,000 tons.
Meanwhile, the deputy prime minister for economic affairs, Korbsak Sapawasu, revealed that about 2.6 million farmers have registered for the price-guarantee scheme for in-season rice so far. As for tapioca and maize, 370,000 farmers have enrolled for each program.

Deputy Government Spokesperson, Supachai Jaisamut, said that the Cabinet on Tuesday considered problems occurring in the transition from the pledging scheme to the price-guarantee scheme. One of these problems is that farmers who have already pledged their rice are not allowed to enter the price-guarantee program.

He added that the Commerce Ministry and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives have been tasked with the revision of pledging procedures and regulations in order to solve the issues.

Source: TANN