Govt set to release 500,000 tonnes of jasmine rice
The Commerce Ministry plans to release 500,000 tonnes of jasmine rice upon the urging of exporters amid high demand in the world market.
After meeting yesterday with rice exporters, Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyaphirom said the government would gradually release rice from its stockpiles via auctions.Private exporters have voiced concern that they have no rice to ship because the government has taken over most of farmers' produce with its high pledging price.
Boonsong said exporters had agreed on the government's measures for releasing the rice and would join the auction process.
Charoen Laothamatas, vice president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said the government should release its stocks, particularly jasmine rice, over a short period to ensure quality.
He pointed out that Thailand normally exports about 200,000-250,000 tonnes of jasmine rice a month, but volume had dropped by 10 per cent since early this year because of the low supply.
"It is a good time to sell jasmine rice amid high demand in the world market. The government should release its jasmine rice so that it will not deteriorate in quality," Charoen said.
Korbsook Iamsuri, president of the association, said she had high hopes that the government would work more closely with private firms in promoting export of Thai rice.
As the major rice holder, the government should closely cooperate with the private sector to ensure a balanced supply of rice in the market, so that exporters would have an adequate supply to serve the global demand, she said.
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