Farmers back Thai government's rice pledging scheme

BANGKOK, June 7 (TNA) - Most Thai farmers have voiced their support for the government's rice pledging scheme despite, probably, a lower-offered price. Prasit Boonchoei, President of the Thai Farmers Association, told reporters on Friday that most farmers want the government to proceed with its rice pledging scheme but proposing that the government reduce its pledge price to 10,000 baht per ton, as they understand that the current pledge price of 15,000-20,000 baht per ton of rice has caused a huge financial burden to the administration. Prasit acknowledged that most Thai farmers are worried, as they would be affected if the government decided to end its rice pledging scheme in September 2013 as reported, and that he has written to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and relevant ministers to express the local farmers' opposition to the termination of the rice pledging scheme. Prasit noted that his association is trying to help local farmers cut their costs per rai (1,600 square meters) of paddy fields from 6,000-7,000 baht to 4,000 baht by providing members with cheaper raw materials, including fertilizers and pesticides, through farmers’ welfare shops named “Bonus” to be first opened in Bangkok's Min Buri area, Ayutthaya and Suphan Buri Provinces, and to also give dividends to them. (TNA)