NRPC’s decisions based on facts

BANGKOK, July 2 (TNA) - The Thai government, through the National Rice Policy Committee (NRPC), has based its decisions on facts, regarding its rice pledge prices. Thai Deputy Commerce Minister Nattawut Saikuar insisted on Tuesday that the government's recent changes in rice pledge prices were based on facts and should not affect the national fiscal discipline. The commerce minister's remarks were in response to the government's latest decision to restore its rice pledge price to 15,000 baht per tonne, from 12,000 baht per tonne, as demanded by local farmers. Meanwhile, farmers nationwide have, again, actively pledged their rice, after the NRPC resolved on Monday to restore the rice pledge price to 15,000 baht per tonne, taking effect until November 30 for rice grown in the Thai South but September 15, 2013 for rice produced in other Thai regions. The Thai Cabinet approved the restored rice pledge price, as proposed by the NRPC, at its weekly meeting earlier in the day. (TNA)