The second round of the government's rice pledging scheme will start next Wednesday, Sept 9, to help farmers hit by low prices for paddy, Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Polbutr said on Thursday.

Under the programme, farmers in 43 provinces can mortgage a total of 450,000 tonnes of second-crop rice, Mr Alongkorn said.

The mortgage prices are set at 11,800 baht a tonne for 5 per cent rice, 12,000 baht for Pathum Thani paddy and 9,000 baht for sticky rice.

Source: Bangkok Post