The government tightened rice-pledging measures for fear the amount pledged for the 2012/2013 season will exceed the 22 million tonnes budgeted.

Although the pledging scheme for the main crop ended on March 31, there is still belated paddy output by farmers that have yet to exercise their rights, according to a source from a panel supervising the pledging chaired by commerce permanent secretary Vatchari Vimooktayon.

These farmers registered to participate in the scheme, but failed to exercise their rights on schedule because of farming delays.

As of April 4, the programme bought 13.402 million tonnes from the main crop, with the government paying 185.83 billion baht through the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, which funds the scheme.

The government set aside a budget of 240 billion baht for the 2012/13 main season, with 15 million tonnes of paddy expected to be pledged. It aims to buy 7 million tonnes for the second crop, spending 105 billion. Purchasing started early this month.

The source said the government was also concerned the amount of off-season paddy being pledged may exceed the target, as farmers in 10 provinces in irrigated areas of lower Central Thailand have been found to be growing a third crop, which could be harvested before the pledging period ending Sept 30.

The pledging programme already bought 1.12 million tonnes, paying over 1 billion baht, in only half a month for the second crop.

"We're concerned some farmers are seeking to take advantage of the pledging programme by changing the names of the farmland's lessee and then re-registering," he said.

Source: Bangkok Post