Farmers in Nakhon Sawa insist they will continue growing Vietnamese fragrant rice, an unregistered variety they say is disease resistant, amid rumours the government is trying to dissuade them by forcing the price down.
Suthep Khongmak, chairman of the Thai Rice Growers Association, said on Friday that he had recently visited Nakhon Sawan and talked with farmers who were planting Vietnamese fragrant rice variety Jasmine 85, known locally as Hom Phuang rice.
Rumours had it that the Rice Department had sent a letter seeking cooperation from rice mills to force the price down as the variety was not a native grain and not registered in the country, Mr Suthep said.
During the visit, farmers told him that a group of people had provided the Vietnamese rice variety to local farmers to plant for the second year, and promised to buy their entire harvest at a price of 8,000 baht per tonne, much higher than local Thai Koh Khor rice, which sold at 6,000 baht per tonne.
Hom Phuang rice had outstanding characteristics with only 90 days from planting to harvest while Kor Khor rice required 120 days. Farmers insisted on planting the Vietnamese variety, the association chairman said.
Farmers said it was easily grown, disease resistant and in high market demand. Of course they preferred it.
If the Rice department did not want to farmers to grow Hom Phuang rice, it should develop Thai rice varieties to be on par with Hom Phuang rice, including the planting duration, yields per rai and disease resistance, he said.
The association chairman said he would visit Nakhon Sawan again on March 14 to meet representatives of farmers, rice mills and agencies under the Rice Department to discuss the planting of rice varieties and work out a joint direction that would give maximum benefits to growers and not limit the rights of farmers.
Hom Phuang rice is widely grown in Nakhon Sawan. (Photo by Sunthorn Pongpao)