Phatthalung Sangyod rice Granted GI Protection in EU

BANGKOK, April 13 (TNA) -- Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has successfully push for the registration of Patthalung's Sangyod rice as Geographical Indicator (GI) product in the European Union (EU), aiming to create an opportunity for Thai rice to become better well known internationally. Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Gen Chatchai Sarikulya said the EU has announced Sangyod rice of Patthalung as a GI product in there, the second rice species to be named a GI product in the EU after the Jasmine rice of Toong Kula Ronghai field in the northeastern region Thailand. Apart from guaranteeing the quality of the product and prevent illegal copying, the registration would also help to provide opportunities for Sangyod rice farmers to promote the product at an internationally stage. Previously, the Rice Department has been promoting the Sangyod and other special rice species within international market and found that Sangyod was well received among foreign consumers because of its beautiful colour and high nutrition value. The department believes that once the rice is successfully registered as a GI product and was promoted along with a tourism scheme which promoted the origin of the rice, it would help to create an impression among tourists and in turn help Sangyod to become more well know internationally. (TNA)