Rice farmers have refused to accept a cabinet decision regarding paddy pledging prices for the new harvest season and threatened to protest if their demands are not met, Thai Farmers Association president Wichian Phuanglamchiak says.
Wichian: Warns of nationwide protests
On Tuesday, the cabinet approved the extension of the rice-pledging scheme, aiming to buy 16.5 million tonnes of paddy from farmers in the 2013/14 season with a budget of 270 billion baht.
The government will continue to buy paddy with no more than 15% moisture content at 15,000 baht per tonne for the main 2013/14 crop (Oct 1, 2013 to Feb 28, 2014).
But for the second crop (March 1 to Sept 30, 2014), the price will be 13,000 baht per tonne.
The maximum amount will be cut to 350,000 baht per household for the main crop and 300,000 baht for the second crop versus 500,000 baht under the current scheme.
Mr Wichian said rice farmers have not accepted the deal. He added that the farmers wanted the paddy pledging prices for both crops to be 14,000 baht per tonne, with a cap of 400,000 baht per household.
If their demands are not met, rice farmers nationwide will come out to protest against the government, Mr Wichian said.