Transport Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan on Thursday agreed in principle with a plan to use a cargo building at Don Mueang Airport as a temporary rice warehouse for the government's price-pledging scheme.
Mr Jarupong said after talks with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra that a cargo building in the southern area of the airport could be used to store the rice.
Details of the plan will be discussed next week by Commerce Ministry and Airports of Thailand (AoT) officials after they inspect the 30,000 square metre warehouse building.
Don Mueang general manager Paranee Vatanotai said details to be discussed include whether it should be free use or whether a lease agreement was needed.
Chukiat Opaswong, the honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said the airport is unsuitable because the grain could be damaged by moisture or insects due to lack of a proper environment control system.
The plan was clear proof of the government's mismanagement of the rice programme, he said.
The government needs more places to store rice because more grain has been admitted into the programme than there should have been, he said.