Farmers wanted the government to continue its rice pledging scheme because it directly benefits rice growers, Wichian Puanglamjiak, chairman of the Thai Farmers Association, said on Friday.
Mr Wichian said he had on Thursday submitted a letter to the Election Commission (EC) asking it to give approval for the government to acquire 130 billion baht in loans to pay farmers who sold their paddy in the main harvest 2013-2014 to the rice scheme.
He said corruption occurs in all programmes, including the farm prices guarantee sand rice pledging schemes, and it is the duty of the officials concerned to find and punishing the offenders, he said.
The government is running the country in a caretaker capacity after the calling of the Feb 2 polls and major decisions, especially involving financing, require the EC's approval.
Farmers in many parts of the are complaining they have still not been paid for crops pledged under the government scheme five months ago and they have no money to buy essential goods.