Rice farmers interested in selling rice online

BANGKOK, Nov 17 (TNA) -- Thailand's Department of Business Development (DBD) stressed that a large crowd of rice farmers have expressed interests to sell their rice products online, in which the department believes the method would help create sustainability for Thai rice products. DBD Director-General Ms Banjongjitt Angsusingh said the DBD and the business sector have been brainstorming to find ways to assist rice farmers during the low rice price crisis, which included the organising of locations and channels for the farmers to directly sell their products to consumers both offline and online. For the online platform, farmers would be able to sell their products via the ThaiCommerceStore.com, said Ms Banjongjitt. She noted that the website ThaiCommerceStore.com, DBD has prepared three banners for the three categories of services, including a direct link to each farmer's website, the link that could divert the buyers to the farmers' social media including Facebook and Instagram page, while those who do not have any online channel can contact their local DBD or Commerce offices in order to have officials assist in creating an online channel to sell their products. Ms Banjonjit noted that many farmers or their family members have already expressed interests to sell their products online, in which the department is set to provide assistance at the best of its ability. Meanwhile, for offline sales, the rice products would be sold through the Thai Retailers Association, where rice farmers would be provided with stalls or open areas to sell their products directly to consumers without the need to pay for any space renting fees. (END)