The pledge prices for off-season rice will be proposed to the prime minister for a decision by next week, while farmers are calingl on the government to set the pledge price over 13,000 baht per tonne as a result of increasing costs.

Today, a sub-committee of the Commerce Ministry will deliberate the pledge prices for off-season rice and will pass its conclusion to the National Rice Policy Committee chaired by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva next week. The state rice-pledging program for off-season rice will begin on March 16.

It's possible that the sub-committee will set the rice pledge prices at between 11,000 baht and 12,000 baht per tonne, to prevent dissatisfaction among farmers and still remain competitive with Vietnam.

President of the Thai Farmers' Association, Prasit Boonchoei revealed that the agency has forwarded a petition to the prime minister and Commerce Minister Porntiwa Nakasai calling for the pledge prices for off-season rice to be set at 13,000 baht per tonne for white rice and 13,500 baht per tonne for Pathum Thani fragrant rice.

Prasit said farmers are suffering from low rice output as a result of the cold weather disaster at the end of last year. As a result, they will encounter losses if the state announces low pledging prices.

Prasit said the association also asked for the milling of pledged rice every week, to release the rice stocks in warehouses. The president of the Thai Farmers' Association added that he wants a representative of the association to take part in the rice pledge price consideration, as the matter affects farmers.

Source: TNA