Bangkok: The Prime Minister summoned the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce to discuss rice price adjustments in an urgent meeting lasting over an hour.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister, convened with Mr. Pichai Naripthaphan, Minister of Commerce, and Ms. Narumon Pinyosinwat, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, to tackle the pressing issue of declining rice prices.
Mr. Pichai and Mrs. Narumon later addressed the media in a joint press conference, highlighting the Prime Minister's concern over the impact of low rice prices on farmers' incomes. Mr. Pichai emphasized the need for a meeting of the National Rice Policy and Administration Subcommittee on Marketing at the Ministry of Commerce. He assured that once the meeting concludes, he will communicate the proposed solutions to the public, with a commitment to increasing rice prices.
Mrs. Narumon echoed the Prime Minister's concerns, noting the coordination between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Commerce. She mentioned that the National Rice Policy and Management Committee (NRMC) would deliberate on measures to alleviate the problem. The Ministry of Agriculture has provided updates on rice varieties and quantities to aid in formulating an effective strategy.
Additionally, Mrs. Narumon indicated that the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) had previously implemented measures for wet season rice farmers and plans to introduce further support for dry season rice growers. These measures aim to absorb surplus rice from the market, potentially utilizing credit measures to delay the sale of 1.5 million tons of rice, thereby stabilizing prices. The proposal will be presented at the upcoming NLA meeting to ensure timely implementation as new rice strains enter the market.