Protesting rice farmers rally in front of parliament

Farmers moved their prolonged protest from Government House to the parliament complex today, to press for government intervention to shore up falling paddy prices.

Thitiwat Kleepmalai, a farmer from Ayutthaya province, claimed that the prices of second-crop paddy have now dropped to under 6,000 baht per tonne and, in some areas, to about 5,300, while the production costs are estimated to be between 6,500 and 7,000 baht per tonne.

He dismissed a claim by the government that the price of paddy is now 8,000 baht per tonne and farmers will receive a subsidy of 1,000 baht for each 0.16 hectares of paddy fields, up to a maximum of 1.6 hectares, because rice millers will normally suppress the price if the grain contains high levels of humidity.

He warned that farmers will starting burning rice waste on April 1st, if the government fails to guarantee the price of paddy at 11,000 baht per tonne, so that farmers can expect to get about 8,000 baht/tonne, after deductions due to humidity, from millers.

Meanwhile, the Commerce Ministry is to propose that National Rice Policy and Management Committee provide the subsidy to farmers on the condition that they switch to other crops or try shrimp or fish farming on their land within three years.

Relevant government agencies will help the farmers to migrate to other produce, rather than only relying on rice farming to make a living, while the Commerce Ministry will help in finding markets for the farmers.