Thaksin defends rice programme

News > Politics

Ex-PM rebuffs critics, wants scheme to go on

Published: 25 Sep 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra says the rice pledging programme should be extended for several more years, rebuffing critics who say the policy has increased government debt and encouraged corruption.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra implemented the price-support policy to boost the incomes of farmers, whose support helped her Pheu Thai Party win elections last year. The government programme buys rice from farmers at above-market rates.

Thaksin said during an interview in Singapore yesterday that the policy reaps economic gains equal to three times the programme's cost.

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spiceman
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Discussion 2 : 25 Sep 2012 at 02.502
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If only Thai rice is like Middle Eastern oil!
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tcr
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Discussion 1 : 25 Sep 2012 at 02.251
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Of course Thaksin defends it. All his partners profit immensely from it. The poor rice farmers only get a little bit, but unfortunately, they are happy with it.
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Thaksin defends rice programme | Bangkok Post: news