Public, private sectors join forces in providing spaces for farmers to sell rice

BANGKOK, Nov 4 (TNA) -- Public and private sectors have join forces in providing spaces for farmers to directly sell their rice to consumers while the government was seeking measures to shore up the falling price of the rice. Phitsanulok governor has launched tents for milled rice and unhusked rice market at the area in front of the provincial hall, allowing the farmers to bring their rice or rice related products to directly sell to the customers with out any space rental fee to help farmers who are struggling with low rice prices due to oversupply. Many private companies have provided spaces for formers such as at a PTT petrol stations in Maha Sarakham's provincial seat. People flocked to buy the Hom Mali fragrant rice after the petrol station allow small farmers to sell their rice without middlemen. The petrol station did not charge farmers for the service. The most popular rice was Hom Mali rice which cost 199 baht for 10 kiligrammes of rice. Meanwhile, MCOT plc has also participated in the attempt to help farmers. On November 8, it has prepared space for the Cooperative Promotion Department to bring the rice, it has bought from farmers to mill and pack, to sell. The customers would have the opportunity to select and shop the good strain and good quality of rice directly from farmers at MCOT plc. At Chiang Rai, the district chief and military have jointly monotored the selling and buying process at the agricultural cooperatives office in Mae Chan to ensure that the process would run properly. Even the rice price was ramain low - at 7 baht 30 satang per kiligramme, the farmers have brought their rice to sell at the office. They said the price here was better than the middleman who bought the rice at 5-6 baht per kiligramme. Mae Chan Agricultural Cooperatives said it would use all measues to help farmers including the loan from Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) for additional 100 million to buy rice from farmer at higher price. At Wat Ban Nong Sank temple in Nakhon Phanom's Na Kae, BAAC staff have consigned money to low income famers who would financial assistance for 1,000 baht per rai but not over than 10 rai to use as their investment for the rice production. The assistance was aimed to help farmers to ease their hardship. There were 13,022 farmers who received the fianancial assistance for a total of 63 million baht. A military unit in Ubon Ratchathani, the Dej Udom district office and Dej Udom Kaset Paiboon Rice Mill have jointly offfer free milling rice for farmers in the area to safe cost for farmers. Meanwhile, the military ranger unit in Mae Hong Son's Sub Moei district has sent soldiers to help farmers to harvest the rice to save labour cost for farmers. The soldiers in Kalasin have also help farmers to harvest the paddy in the province. (TNA)