Rice varieties prepared for royal ploughing ceremony

BANGKOK, May 7 (TNA) - The Rice Department has been granted seven rice varieties from His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn to be used in the royal ploughing ceremony next Monday. Director-General of the Rice Department, Anan Suwannarat said that 1,799 kgs of rice seeds were harvested from the rice field in the Chitralada Palace for the annual ceremony to mark the beginning of the rice cultivation season. Seven rice varieties of these rice seeds are Khao Dok Mali Rice 105, Pathumthani 1, Sang Yod rice, indigenous to the South of Thailand, Kor Khor 6 glutinous rice, Kor Khor 57, Kor Khor 71 and low-sugar Kor Khor 43 rice strain, which will be used for the first time in the ceremony. All rice seeds will undergo the Sangha blessing ceremony at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha on May 13 before the Brahmin ritual on the next day at the Sanam Luang ceremonial ground. Seven varieties of the rice seeds will be also distributed to farmers across the country as auspicious gifts. (TNA)