Rice farmers across the country flocked to banks and automated teller machines (ATMs) to receive aid under the government's price guarantee scheme, which began yesterday.
Adviser to Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit, Mallika Boonmetrakool Mahasook, said officials from local commerce offices across the country were sent to monitor the disbursement of the aid, which were transferred by the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) directly into the bank accounts of farmers who had registered and harvested their rice crop before Oct 15.
Noticeable queues were seen at BAAC branches and ATMs nationwide, especially in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Phitsunalok, Saraburi, Sukhothai, Nakhon Pathom, Si Sa Ket, Ubon Ratchathani, Kamphaeng Phet, Pathum Thani and Khon Kaen, which are rice-growing provinces, she said.
The cabinet last Thursday approved a proposal by the Commerce Ministry to allow the BAAC to carry out the rice farmers' income-guarantee programme for the 2021/2022 harvest year, worth more than 13 billion baht.
Under the project, financial aid will be offered to farmers who grow five varieties of rice, with no more than 15% moisture content.
Under the programme, farmers which grew the Hom Mali variety are eligible to receive 4,135.77 baht per tonne, capped at 14 tonnes per household.
Farmers who grow the Hom Mali variety outside the 20 northeastern provinces and three northern provinces will receive 3,595.25 baht per tonne, limited to 16 tonnes per household.
While farmers who grow white rice will get 1,934.62 baht per tonne, capped at 30 tonnes per household.
Those who grow Pathum Thani variety will receive 1,052.13 baht per tonne, limited to 25 tonnes per household, while farmers who grow glutinous rice will get 4,337.47 baht per tonne, limited to no more than 16 tonnes.