Commerce ministry to fine-tune rice price guarantee scheme.
The Commerce Ministry is looking to fix problems in the rice price guarantee scheme ahead of the new round of registration scheduled to kick off next month.
Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai held a meeting with related parties to discuss problems in the rice price guarantee scheme.
Such problems include difficulties in the registration process, delayed public hearings and lack of understanding of the program by officials at the operational level.
The discussion aims to improve the ongoing program, for which the second round of enrollment will begin on January 1 next year.
Porntiva also urged related officials to be more active in informing local farmers about the program.
The new round of the price guarantee scheme will open for registration nationwide from January 1 to April 30, 2010.
Eligible farmers will be called in to sign contracts between January 20 and May 30 and may receive compensation between January 21 and July 31.
However, registration for southern provinces will run from April 1 to July 31.
The guaranteed-price rates will remain the same with the price for Pathum Thani fragrant rice at 11,000 baht per ton, white rice at 10,000 baht and glutinous rice at 9,500 baht.
