PHITSANULOK - A group of farmers who delivered their crops of a new strain of grain, Rice Berry, to a wholesaler but did not get paid have finally received the first down payment on their harvests.
The 71 farmers last year delivered a total of 600 tonnes of Rice Berry, a new strain of premium quality rice, to Amporn Pholthao.
They said he persuaded the group to grow the new strain and promised them a high price. Five months after delivering their grain the farmers still had not received any money, so they sought for help from the agricultural ministry’s local office.
The farmers, assisted by agriculture officials, have so far sold 200 tonnes of their rice, earning 1.18 million baht in total, The money was distributed to between the farmers on Monday by Anan Kittrattanwasin, the chief of Bang Rakam district.
Farmers show their overdue money received on Monday.
Direk Yimhoi, chief of the district’s Agricultural Extension Office, said the office would try to find buyers for the remaining rice at 11,000 baht a tonne, and hoped to market the grain, a form of black rice, in the near future.
He suggested farmers who want to invest in new crops or new projects should first consult his office to prevent problems. His staff could assist with technical issues and quality examination, and with marketing.
In July 2012 it was announced Thai scientists had developed new rice strains with a high anti-oxidant component that could help prevent the development of cancer and thalassemia.
Rice Science Centre then-director Apichart Vanavichit earlier said the new strains, Rice Berry and Sin Lek, were full of anti-oxidants, iron and magnesium substances based on a clinical test by Kasetsart University.
The bran and bran oil of Rice Berry contained lupeol that could help prevent cancer cell development or even kill the cells, he said.