Commerce ministry says rice prices to increase continuously

BANGKOK, Nov 26 (TNA) -- The Commerce Ministry said that the rice prices have continuously increased, after the government implemented new measures and various agencies have helped to purchase rice from farmers. Commerce Minister Ms Apiradi Tantraporn said the rice prices in the general market in seeing a continual hike, including the price of unmilled jasmine rice, unmilled glutinous rice, and unmilled white rice, due to government assistance measures, which delayed the selling of rice by farmers. She added that various agencies have also stepped in to help, by making direct purchase of rice from farmers, as well as rice mills owners and exporters' move to buy rice from farmers, along with the suggestion that farmers sun-dried their rice harvest before selling them have helped to increase rice prices from previously. The price of unmilled jasmine rice with 15% moisture as of November 24, 2016, stood at 9,200-10,800 baht per tonnes, an increase of about 150 baht or 1.52 per cent from the previous price. The minister said she is confident that the rice prices would continue to increase once the quantity of rice in the market decreases, while international demands are ongoing. (TNA)