The National Rice Policy Committee is planning to propose measures to prevent corruption in the price pledging program to be brought back to use by the incoming government.

Director General of Internal Trade Department Watcharee Wimuktayon has announced as secretary-general of the National Rice Policy Committee that the department is planning to submit a report on the implementation of the price pledging policy in the past to the new government.

The Pheu Thai Party has promised to reinstate the program and to bring up the price of rice to 15,000 baht per ton.

The department will also propose preventive measures against corruption in the program.

The department will ask provincial rice committees to step up their monitoring effort while the Public Warehouse Organization must closely supervise at all time so any problem can be addressed in a timely manner.

The guideline will also call for officials to pay attention to the registration process to prevent possible fraud and authorize rotation of rice stocks.

Watcharee is confident that the pledging policy will increase farmers' income which will in turn boost consumption and the economy.

Meanwhile, President of the Thai Farmers Association Prasit Boonchoey has reported that from talks with the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Thai Rice Millers Association, the association will ask the new government to form a committee which will oversee the price and distribution system of rice at the national level.

Prasit believes this will stabilize the price and provide financial security for farmers who would no longer need to rely on state assistance during periods of low rice price.

Source: TANN