Thailand gears up strategic move to further develop jasmine rice

SI SA KET, THAILAND, July 1 (TNA) - Thailand’s northeastern Si Sa Ket Province is speeding up its strategic move to further develop Thai jasmine or "Hom Mali" rice, aimed to become a top production ground for the high-quality Thai rice. Si Sa Ket Governor Prateep Keeratiraeka acknowledged on Tuesday that Thailand is globally-wellknown for high standards of rice production, especially the jasmine rice grown in the Northeast with its unique fragrance. However, Prateep pointed out, high production costs of Thailand's jasmine rice result in its higher prices, compared with those of other rival grains exporting countries, namely Cambodia, China and Vietnam. According to the Si Sa Ket governor, his province will, therefore, spend a budget of over 22 million baht to establish jasmine rice seed distribution centres in every sub-district to ensure access to high-quality seed supply for local farmers and to increase the provincial rice produce for exports in order to boost Si Sa Ket's potential as a top jasmine rice production area in the country. The Si Sa Ket governor made the remarks when he opened a seminar entitled "Thai Jasmine Rice Future on the World Market", jointly organised by his province and the Rice Department, under the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, at a provincial hotel, aimed to present national rice development strategies to further promote Thai jasmine rice production, marketing and distribution, as well as to publicize high quality of Thai jasmine rice globally to further boost its exports. The seminar was also aimed to educate Thai farmers and entrepreneurs about the global rice trade situation.(TNA)