Military warehouses in Don Muang area can be used for rice storage if necessary, Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat said on Thursday.
ACM Sukumpol said this while voicing staunch support for the government's decision to continue with the rice price fixing scheme, which has drawn criticism and opposition from many sides, including academics.
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He said that if there is a problem with a lack of warehouses to store the rice stockpile, the military would make available warehouses which are currently not being used.
During the floods last year military warehouses in Don Muang area were used to store flood relief supplies. These warehouses were found to have some leaks. After repairs, they could be used to store rice, ACM Sukumpol said.
The defence minister said the rice pledging scheme is intended to lift the quality of farmers' lives by ensuring they get more money for their crops.
"The government has to suffer some losses so people at the fundamental level can have more money. I don't see farmers coming out to protest and say they don't want the rice pledging scheme," he said.
ACM Sukumpol said although there were problems with corruption, the scheme must continue as long as the objective is met and as long as the farmers like it.
"If we can collaborate with Vietnam, we would be able to fix the price of rice ourselves. The government may have to spend some money for the people to be happy. The farmers have said in two or three more years they would be better off.
"Don't worry. Nobody would be foolish enough to cause the country to collapse.
"Whether the farmers will really be better off, go ask them," he said.