The deputy prime minister in charge of economic affairs has revealed that the national rice policy committee will discuss an inspection report on the status of off-season rice in the government stock.

Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu, who is in charge of economic affairs, revealed that he would forward an inspection report on the quality of rice stockpiles to the national rice policy committee for their consideration. The inspection was conducted by Korbsak and the Finance Ministry as per the premier's instructions.

Korbsak said off-season rice was being kept in 40 warehouses in Nakhon Sawan and Kampaengpetch provinces, amounting to 47 per cent of the total amount of rice and the rice was considered in good condition.

The inspection report will also be forwarded to the Commerce Ministry, which will carry out the distribution of 300,000 tons of rice through Agricultural Futures Exchange of Thailand, or AFET, as per the cabinet's decision. Korbsak believes the AFET lot will be sold at a price of 5 per cent higher than that of white rice.

A source from the Government House reveals that each inspected rice grain is more than 7- millimetres- long and 80 per cent of the rice remains intact and in full form. Thus, the rice is in excellent condition and should deserve high price. Howver, this information is contrary to a report by the Commerce Ministry, which claimed that the rice stockpiles were seriously deteriorating despite the fact that the rice had recently been pledged and kept in warehouses.

The discrepancy prompted Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to assign the Finance Ministry and related agencies to inspect the status of rice stockpiles again.

2.2 million tons of off-season rice have been pledged by the previous and current administration on two occasions. Currently, there are about 1.48 million tons of rice remaining in the government warehouses.

Source: TANN