The commerce minister has ordered all related agencies to test the rice price pledging scheme and go over the anti-corruption guideline before the program starts on October 7.

Commerce Minister Kittirat Na Ranong has ordered all related parties from the government and the private sectors, including provincial governors, representatives from rice mills, farmers and designated warehouses, to test the rice price pledging program. 

The program will come into effect on October 7. 

Kittirat said that the test is aimed to prevent any possible corruption, especially during the current period when much of the rice crop has been destroyed by floods. 

The minister pressed responsible officials to thoroughly inspect the quality of the rice to prevent substandard crops from being taken into the program in order to ensure that farmers would receive full benefits.

If faced with unfair treatment, farmers are encouraged to contact the Internal Trade Department at the 1569 hotline. 

Meanwhile, Director General of the Internal Trade Department Watcharee Wimuktayon reported that there has been a discussion on how to best carry out the price pledging program, including the milling and shipping processes, to ensure maximum efficiency. 

Related agencies have also discussed corruption and fraud prevention since the program is a major government project aimed to raise farmers' income and the overall standards of agricultural products. 

Local administrations have been ordered to monitor the pledging process at their nearest facilities. 

At the moment, more than 650 rice mills and 200 warehouses across the country have been registered to participate in the program. 

Once the milled rice stocks are stored, only quality surveyors, staff from the Public Warehouse Organization and members of provincial committees will have access to them in order to prevent any irregularities. 

About the bagged rice price hike, Watcharee said manufacturers can submit another request to the department.

However, she expected the price to remain unchanged for the time being as businesses have yet to ask for a price hike and the domestic supply is still high. 

The government's rice price pledging program will take place from October 7 to February 29 next year, with the exception for the South, which will see the program take place from February 1 to July 31 of next year. 

The quoted price is 20,000 baht per ton for unmilled jasmine rice, 15,000 baht for 100 percent non-glutinous unmilled rice, 14,800 baht for five percent non-glutinous unmilled rice, 14,600 baht for ten percent non-glutinous unmilled rice and 14,200 baht for 15 percent non-glutinous unmilled rice.

Source: TANN