Farmers unhappy with new rice price

Rice farmers are not happy with the cabinet's decision on Tuesday to raise the price of pledged rice from 10,000 baht per tonne to 11,000 baht as it still does not cover the cost of growing a crop, Thai Farmers Association chairman Prasit Boonchoey said on Wednesday.

Farmers still have to meet a range of rising costs, including fertilisers and pesticides, said Mr Prasit.

“The rice price has not been raised for several years. The call for the rice pledging price to increase to 14,000 baht a tonne is not too high because prices of consumer goods have already gone up,” he said.

The chairman confirmed that he had discussed the issue with Deputy Prime Minister for economic matters Trairong Suwannakhiri. However, he still wanted to meet Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to directly discuss a  suitable rice price with him.

Mr Prasit said farmers' views have never been taken into account when setting the price of pledged rice crops. The price was based only on impractical  academic principles.

(Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/225732/farmers-not-happy-with-new-rice-price)