First crop rice should be limited to 55.8 million rai (about 9 million hectares) this year, with specific planting zones to be announced next week, and the growing season will start in May, the government said on Friday.
The proposed cultivation area is about 6 million rai less than last year's 61.74 million rai.
Commerce permanent secretary Chutima Bunyapraphasara said the area to be cultivated was set by a meeting of the committee planning for integrated rice cultivation.
The Agriculture Ministry would announce the target zones for rice growing next week, along with planting dates.
She said it was the first time the private sector and government had jointly planned for the production and marketing of the rice crop. This would enable Thailand to know the status and location of the crops and would allow better management of water supplies.
Ms Chutima said it would also make marketing easier because rice millers could be contacted in advance to prepare for the purchase and sale of the country’s most important crop.
In areas considered not suitable for rice production, the Agriculture Ministry would provide support for the growing of substitute crops. The Commerce Ministry would also help with career training for farmers to boost incomes.
She said the government would also support farmers who wanted to band together to cultivate a larger area. and help them get access to low-interest loans from the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives. Maximum credit of 5 million baht would be available per group. Around 300 rice millers were ready to buy paddy from these groups.