The government is continuing with a rice pledging scheme. Both price guarantee measures and the pledging program will be used simultaneously, while new procurement methods are being considered.

Yanyong Phuangrach, Director-general of the Internal Trade Department, revealed that the National Rice Committee plans to continue the rice pledging program for in-season rice this year through the next year.

Yanyong said the pledge price might be lower than the prices the government has guaranteed, in an effort to encourage farmers to join the price quarantee program.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, acting for the chairman of the National Rice Committee, insisted that the price guarantee measures and the pledging program will be used simultaneously, while a new procurement program is being devised for implementation.

The PM said the price intervention system used for the state's rice guarantee program is the same as that used for cassava and corn, which will be proposed during the cabinet's meeting in the middle of this month by Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhawasu.

Source: TANN