Thailand to keep developing rice strains

BANGKOK, March 16 (TNA) - Thailand's Rice Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives announced on Friday that it will keep developing Thai rice strains, in response to climate change, in order to promote and secure sustainable living of Thai farmers. Presiding over an event held to celebrate the 6th anniversary of the Rice Department, Permanent Secretary for Agriculture and Cooperatives Supatra Tanaseneewat reiterated the mission, together with attempts to preserve and protect the Thai rice to uphold Thailand's status as the world's largest rice producer and exporter in the long run. Meanwhile, Rice Department Director-General Chairit Damrongkiat said that apart from a success in developing Thailand's two new rice strains this year, his department will further adopt more developed technologies in order to help local farmers reduce costs, in parallel with continuing the development of Thai grains. (TNA)