B240bn approved for rice pledging scheme

Published: 2 Oct 2012 at 16.00
Online news:

The cabinet on Tuesday approved a total budget of 240 billion baht for a new round of rice price pledging, destined for the 15 million tonnes harvest due to begin this month, permanent secretary for commerce Watcharee Wimuktayon said.

The period for the new round of pledging runs from Oct 1, 2012 to Sept 15, 2013. Mortgaged rice prices were set at 15,000 baht a tonne for unmilled white rice paddy and 20,000 baht per tonne for Hom Mali (Jasmine) paddy, she said.

Mrs Watcharee said the cabinet had not discussed the pledging scheme for the second crop, which would be harvested in March next year. The government had a six-month window to reconsider the scheme.

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android
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Discussion 19 : 03 Oct 2012 at 06.1119
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Discussion 10 brilliant : "there's another 100 billion baht lost to corruption as with the first time."

Should there is any concrete evidence establishing a corruption being involved in the rice pledge scheme, dems or PADs had already filed a complaint to NACC or DSI for investigation a long time ago. Don't jump to your presumption so soon before getting the facts.
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khunbj
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Discussion 18 : 03 Oct 2012 at 06.0818
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Englishjon : I understand that your reply is that you don't know, and your understanding of the EU subsidy system is wrong, it is in place to ensure minimum prices for farmers as they else would go out of business ... and since EU emphasize that agriculture is essential to the community then they are willing to pay the price and that is where the comparison comes in , Rice farming is essential to Thailand and is willing to pay for this. There has always been a stockpile of rice and Thailand is obliged to have a stockpile in case the harvest should fail, and latest it has also an obligation to ASEAN to keep a certain stockpile. EU holds stockpiles of a lot of different products (meat as well as farm products) as well, and so do other regions that farm....farming cannot be run like a JIT car factory.
Englishbob : Ok I see your answer, I believe in the free market as well , however basically the whole world is embracing subsidies for farming, because they think or decided it makes sense, and that seem to be the case for Thailand as well. The success of the government you can follow in the news daily.
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spiceman
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Discussion 17 : 03 Oct 2012 at 02.0117
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Khun Jwatch #7, all economic development models I know call for transferring labor from low-paying farming sector into higher-paying industrial one. The Europeans, the Americans, the Japanese, the South Koreans, the Malaysians, and etc, all are successful in improving the standard of living for their people using this proven development model. For example, prior to WWII, 95% of US population was in farming, today only 5% remain farmers, but their farming output is greater than ever through modern farming methods. A nation full of farmers can't prosper, no matter how hard we try. It's just the economic fact of life!
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cadcolin
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Discussion 16 : 02 Oct 2012 at 23.2016
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Can some explain how this all works
1) The government buys rice above market rate and store it (laudable thing giving the poor rice farmer more money if he actually receives it but that’s another issue)
2) The government now has a stoke pile of rice it’s paid over the odds for
3) Where does the government now sell this rice for a profit?
Now if the price paid is less than the international price then its export for profit if not why would other countries pay more for rice when they can get it elsewhere cheaper?
Q wouldn’t it be better policy to start the farmers growing products with higher market prices and are exportable (I know that’s a bit simplistic assuming the land can support diversified crops)
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dao
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Discussion 15 : 02 Oct 2012 at 22.4415
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Its bad enough that taxpayers have to pay for the governemnt to buy the rice crop at twice what its worth putting the county in debt more and more .Couldnt they at least give the rice to poor countries in Africa instead of letting it rot in a warehouse because they dont want the public to see .
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domdunnn
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Discussion 14 : 02 Oct 2012 at 22.2514
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englishbob D9

What you and I consider successful government policies is besides the point, it is what Thai voters think that is important.
At Asian Correspondent, Bangkok Pundit has a detailed report and analysis of the latest Suan Dusit poll which shows that respondents give the government a rating of about 6 out of ten, they single out as "outstanding", drug suppression - international affairs - wages - pensions - electricity and water discounts.
That would probably be the reason why Forbes magazine last week described Yingluck's government as "surprisingly popular".
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bluebottle
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Discussion 13 : 02 Oct 2012 at 21.4613
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The figures do not add up neither do the two opposing statements one say the farmers are not happy and have not had payment the other is the total opposite.It would be very easy to find the truth about payment. The situation ref the amount of rice Kicking about is not that difficult either.To see some accounts must be every tax payers entitlement they have put up the money.If the government has nothing to hide the accounts should not pose a problem.If the do not produce accounts for scrutiny then there is only one conclusion you can come to!
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The Dark Side
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Discussion 12 : 02 Oct 2012 at 21.3012
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The only thing that is transparent in Thailand is a Thai's skin. This country is going backwards at an incredibly fast pace. Soon it will be no better than Laos, Cambodia or Burma. Hey Dubai, Wake Up.
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englishjon
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Discussion 11 : 02 Oct 2012 at 21.1711
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Disc#4: khunbj

I suggest you get back onto google and read a little more about the EU common agricultural policy.

Then come back and tell us in what way it compares to this farce created by PT as a way to siphon off taxpayers money to their middle-management buffalo herders in the North East.

For a start, the EU grants go directly to farmers instead of being creamed off at the expense of the poor like with the rice scheme.

Second the policy is aimed at promoting the growth of crops which would be otherwise uneconomical for the farmers compared to the basic crops like wheat.

I look forward to your comparisons.
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brilliant
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Discussion 10 : 02 Oct 2012 at 21.0010
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Well, there's another 100 billion baht lost to corruption as with the first time. This is sickening.
bystander is completely correct - if the tax payers are going to foot this bill, they should demand information on every aspect of this "scheme".
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B240bn approved for rice pledging scheme | Bangkok Post: business