Rice production plan for 2017/2018 to be considered

BANGKOK, Feb 4 (TNA) -- Thailand’s Commerce Ministry and related agencies will submit rice production and supply plan for the 2017/2018 season to the Rice Policy and Management Committee in March, said Wiboonluk Ruamruk, permanent secretary for Commerce. Ms Wiboonluk said in her capacity as chief of rice production and marketing strategy working committee that the committee had held discussion on rice production and marketing for 2017/2018, aimed at preventing oversupply in the country. It is projected that paddy rice demand in the country would be between 26-29 million tonnes, almost unchanged from the previous season, she said. Farming area is projected to decline to 54 million rai, down 2.5 million rai from the previous season, said Ms Wiboonluk. In a bid to boost local demand for rice, rice market will be held on a regular basis along with a more rice purchasing through an online system and a higher recognition from the European and the US markets, she said. The working committee will hold a meeting again before submitting its plan to the Rice Policy and Management Committee in March. Farmers are scheduled to make preparations on land this May before the planting start. (TNA)