PM insists rice scheme stays

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Farmers' rising incomes 'will stimulate economy'

Published: 4 Oct 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her cabinet insist the rice pledging scheme will continue despite strong criticism by the government's chief adviser.

About 500 rice farmers protest outside the campus of the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) in Sikhiu district of Nakhon Ratchasima province yesterday. Nida’s academics oppose the government’s rice pledging scheme. The farmers say the policy has helped free them from massive debts and improved their lives. PRASIT TANGPRASERT

Ms Yingluck said Tuesday the rice pledging programme was aimed at helping rice farmers and the rising incomes of farmers would eventually stimulate the national economy.

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wyle
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Discussion 8 : 04 Oct 2012 at 07.078
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All of this blaa blaa from the government. Where are the contracts for the rice? Who purchased the rice? How much per ton was paid? What is the delivery details? Why keep every detail a secret? The only possible answer is that there is much to hide and too many white lies.
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sunnyjim
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Discussion 7 : 04 Oct 2012 at 06.567
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If the scheme is working so well, why did Thailand IMPORT 200'000 tons of rice from Cambodia last month? Because Thai rice under this scheme is too expensive for Thai people.
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khunbj
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Discussion 6 : 04 Oct 2012 at 06.476
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D4 : Aussie John, good point .... and they can't they need help for that....but I did read in Thai media some time ago that each milling station had 3 police officers posted to check...but whether that helps or it is like having the fox guard the chickens, I don't know...
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bula
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Discussion 5 : 04 Oct 2012 at 06.405
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AV has no vision. He cannot think big and will be a disaster to Thailand if he is elected. He sees only problems not solutions.
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Aussie John
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Discussion 4 : 04 Oct 2012 at 06.144
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How will the government exclude corrupt rice millers if they have connections?
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spiceman
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Discussion 3 : 04 Oct 2012 at 05.513
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Khun BJ #2, it is not merely tight budge but rather tight profit margin, especially, during a long and deep recession here. I am in food business, and if I can spend less on the same quality of rice from else where, why should I commit economic suicide for someone else? We are talking about 150 sacks of rice per purchase here, OK?
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khunbj
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Discussion 2 : 04 Oct 2012 at 05.002
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Spiceman : hope you enjoy your non thai rice, please stick with it ...must be hard to be at such a tight budget (:
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spiceman
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Discussion 1 : 04 Oct 2012 at 02.081
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Yes, "farmers' rising income will stimulate the Economy," but only in a free market environment, where Thai rice competes favorably against rice from else where. Now, our export customers are switching to other cheaper alternatives, your truly included, so unless Thai rice is the same as Middle Eastern crude oil, the farmers, and the taxpayers will be in for a nasty surprise, while only crooked politicians and their cronies will reap record profit. That's how Thai politics works, hell to the country, but let fill up our dirty pockets first!
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PM insists rice scheme stays | Bangkok Post: news