Thai rice exports to meet target in 2015

BANGKOK, June 17 (TNA) - Thailand's rice exports are likely to meet 10 million tons this year, as officially targeted. Commerce Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya told journalists on Wednesday although the government has asked farmers to postpone their main rice crop for a month, there should not be any impact on Thailand’s overall rice production and his ministry's targeted 10-million-ton rice exports this year should, thus, be met. General Chatchai admitted that Thai paddy prices have fallen below the government’s target of 8,000-8,500 baht per ton in line with global rice prices. The Thai commerce minister said he believed that local paddy prices should rise within two months because drought was cutting rice production in many countries. To help Thai farmers who were instructed to delay their rice cultivation, the commerce minister noted that his ministry has tried to offer consumer products at discounts and to raise the prices of farm products, while the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has worked out other kinds of assistance. (TNA)