Thai authorities monitor goods prices in flood-affected areas

BANGKOK, September 30 (TNA) - Thai Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn has ordered provincial commerce chiefs in all flood-affected areas to closely monitor local goods prices to protect consumers from hoarding for profiteering by traders and shortages of products. Expressing her particular concerns over farm produce prices in the flood-affected areas, Apiradi told journalists on Friday that she has also instructed the concerned provincial commerce chiefs to closely monitor the prices of local agricultural products, especially those of tapioca and corn, in their jurisdiction. Apiradi stressed that she has ordered the provincial commerce chiefs in the flood-hit and flood-prone areas to closely follow up the local trading situation and survey for flood-damages in affected farmlands. Apiradi said the local commerce authorities have been assigned to be particularly watchful for necessaries in the flood-affected areas to protect consumers from being taken advantages by traders in all forms. Besides, consumer goods with cheaper prices than their market prices should be offered to local people in the affected areas, particularly farmers, both during and after the current flooding period to alleviate their plight. The commerce minister noted, however, she has been reported that the current flooding situation has affected only some limited areas in the short term, including those located in river basins where the situation should return to normal soon. (TNA)