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Trends Could Create Opportunity
for Rice in Europe
By Sarah Moran
Bern, Switzerland - The Swiss
Rice Federation (RISO) gathered here this week for their annual meeting to
discuss the Swiss rice market in particular, as well as the EU rice supply
situation in general and current trends. Rice importers and international corporations
participated in the meeting, including: Mars Foods Schweiz, Reismühle
Brunnen, La Riseria, Stutzer and Co Ag., Riso Gallo Spa.
International Food scout Richard
Kägi presented valuable insights into food marketing and trends in
Switzerland and how rice fits into the picture of healthy eating and consumer
demand.
He explained that rice should
capitalize on the current European trend of eating less meat by vying for
space on the plate vegetables are currently taking. Kägi says the less-meat
trend is not necessarily being driven by people choosing a vegetarian
lifestyle, rather that it is consistent with consumers in wealthy European
countries opting to eat meat only one or two times per week, but then
splurging on very high-quality cuts and types of meat.
"We also heard consumers are
interested in relating to their food, so telling the story of the food
product is very important," said USA Rice's Eszter Somogyi who attended
the meetings. "Social media and food and lifestyle influencers will be key
in telling the rice story."
Switzerland imports 600-700 MT of
U.S. rice annually, including long and medium grain varieties, which are sold
as identified U.S. rice in mainstream retail as well as Asian specialty
wholesale and retail chains. Rice as a main dish here is dominated by Risotto
thanks to the heavy Italian influence in the country.
|
|
WASDE Report Released
WASHINGTON, DC -- This month's
outlook for 2018/19 U.S. rice is for higher imports, lower exports, and
increased ending stocks. All the supply and demand changes are for medium-
and short grain rice.
Total rice imports are raised 0.5
million cwt to record 29.0 million on increased China shipments to Puerto
Rico. All U.S. rice exports are down 2 million cwt to 98 million on a slow
shipment pace to date of medium- and short-grain rice. Even with this reduction,
2018/19 rice exports are forecast to increase 11 million cwt from the
previous year as U.S. rice is expected to be more competitive.
Rice ending stocks are raised 2.5
million cwt to 49.6 million, the largest in more than 30 years. The all rice
season-average farm price is raised $0.10 per cwt at the midpoint to a range
of $11.70 to $12.70 per cwt. The entire change is due to increased
long-grain prices.
Global 2018/19 rice supplies are
raised 6.3 million tons to 664.2 million, mostly on a large increase for
India production. India's rice crop is raised 5.0 million tons to a record
116.0 million due to favorable summer rainfall and updated government data.
Bangladesh production is raised 0.5 million tons to 35.0 million also on
favorable weather and increased harvested area.
Global exports are reduced 0.4
million tons to 47.4 million but still remain record large. Global
consumption is raised 1.7 million tons to 492.0 million, led by a 1.1 million
ton increase for India. With world supplies rising more than total use,
global ending stocks are raised 4.6 million tons to 172.2 million to a new
record.
The full report can be found here.
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Rice producer
splits sales and marketing duties
Photo: Lundberg Family Farms
03.08.2019
He received a bachelor’s of science degree in marketing and
finance at California State University in Chico and a master’s of business
administration degree in marketing from the University of Phoenix.
“George brings energy and experience to Lundberg Family Farms,” said
Grant Lundberg, chief executive officer of Lundberg Family Farms. “He is an
outstanding addition to our team and will help us continue our growth and
representation at retail.”
Todd Kluger, who had been vice-president of sales and marketing,
now will lead marketing operations as vice-president of marketing.
Import duties on brown rice rise in
E.U.
brown rice BRUSSELS, BELGIUM — The European
Commission increased the import duty on “husked” or brown rice (non-basmati) to
€65 per tonne. As of March 8, the new duty stands for the European Union
(E.U.). In accordance with international agreements, rice import duties in the
E.U. are reviewed twice a year, on March 1 and Sept. 1.
The European Commission noted the increase in
demand of husked rice had reached more than 264,000 tonnes since September
2018, leading to an increase in import duties. This import duty had not changed
since the March 2012 review. “The legislation in place highlights that if the
level of imports for husked rice in the first six months of the marketing year
is below 191,113 tonnes, the duty should be fixed at €30 per tonne which was the
case until today’s decision,” the European Commission said. “When it exceeds
191,113 tonnes, but is not higher than 224,839 tonnes, the duty should be fixed
at €42.5 per tonne. Finally, which applies in this case, if it exceeds 258,565
tonnes, the duty needs to be set at €65 per tonne.” Import duties of €65 per
tonne are now fixed until the next review, which will be on Sept. 1, 2019. The
European Commission will continue to monitor the market closely.
Thailand rice farmers to decide coming election
Rice farmers oppose military
junta’s new rice bill. The 24 March election will mark the country’s return to
democratic politics. Support for the rural north-east was fundamental to the
Shinawatra family’s electoral success. The Constitutional Court disbands the
Thai Raksa Chart Party for putting forward a royal princess as candidate.
Bangkok (AsiaNews/Agencies) -
Rice farmers are at the centre of Thai politics once again.
As a result of their opposition,
the government has indefinitely postponed a controversial bill. Farmers are in
fact one of the most influential groups in the country.
The next general elections is set
for 24 March, the first since 2011, marking the country’s return to a
democratic regime, almost five years after the military seized power.
The Thai Raksa Chart Party will
not take part in the elections though. The Constitutional Court ordered its
dissolution after it dragged the monarchy into
politics by presenting the king's sister as
a candidate.
The party was loyal to the still
influential Shinawatra family,
which dominated Thai politics for years.
Former Prime Minister Yingluck
Shinawatra was overthrown by the military in 2014; three years later, the
Supreme Court sentenced her in absentia to
five years of imprisonment for "negligence" in a controversial scheme
to subsidise rice production.
Despite the court decision, she
has always maintained her innocence, claiming to be the victim of the ruling
junta's attempt to prevent her family from returning to power.
Her brother, Thaksin Shinawatra,
is also a former prime minister who was overthrown by a coup in 2006 and
sentenced (in absentia) to two years in prison for offences related to conflict
of interests.
Support for the rural northeast
of Thailand was a key part of the Shinawatras’ electoral success, based largely
on subsidies to rice farmers.
A rice bill proposed by the junta
would have established a government-controlled board to oversee the industry,
granting the state sole authority to license certain strains of rice seeds for
sale.
The bill passed the first reading
in the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) in January but was postponed last
week due to growing opposition from rice farmers who claim it would exclusively
benefit large-scale producers by banning the distribution of rice seeds not
approved by the proposed new board. The bill will be reconsidered after the elections
on 24 March.
According to some analysts,
dissatisfaction with the bill can hurt incumbent Prime Minister Prayuth
Chan-ocha, who will run in March as the candidate for the pro-military Palang
Pracharat party. A former commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai army, Prayuth
led the military coup of May 2014.
The latest controversy over rice
policy could provide an opportunity for the main opposition, Thai Pheu Party,
founded by Thaksin Shinawatra.
It is not yet clear however, what
impact yesterday’s dissolution of its ally, the Thai Raksa Chart Party, by the
Constitutional Court will have.
The Election Commission had asked
the court to dissolve the party after it named Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya
Sirivadhana Barnavadi as its candidate for the prime minister position,
claiming that the candidacy went against the constitutional monarchy.
The court ruling includes a ban
on the members of the Thai Raksa Chart Party executive council from political
activities for ten years. On social media, the princess described the verdict
as "sad and depressing".
Cambodia rice export up 1.9 pct in 1st two months
PHNOM PENH, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia exported 112,486 tons of
milled rice in the first two months of 2019, an increase of 1.9 percent over
the same period last year, according to an official report on Friday. China is
the biggest buyer of Cambodia rice, said the report from the Secretariat of One
Window Service for Rice Export. Cambodia export 43,452 tons of milled rice to
China during the Jan.-Feb. period this year, up 32 percent over the same period
last year, it said, adding that Chinese market absorbed 38.6 percent of
Cambodia's total rice export. According to the report, Cambodia rice export to
the European markets declined by 33 percent during the period because the
European Union, in January, imposed tariffs on rice going from Cambodia in a
bid to curb a surge in rice imports from the kingdom. The Southeast Asian
nation shipped 33,969 tons of rice to Europe in the first two months of this
year, down 33 percent over the same period last year, the report said. Cambodia
produces around 10 million tons of paddy rice a year, according to the Ministry
of Agriculture.
Cambodia rice export up 1.9 pct in 1st two months
Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-08
22:17:53|Editor: xuxin
PHNOM PENH, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia exported 112,486 tons
of milled rice in the first two months of 2019, an increase of 1.9 percent over
the same period last year, according to an official report on Friday.
China is the biggest buyer of Cambodia rice, said the report
from the Secretariat of One Window Service for Rice Export.
Cambodia export 43,452 tons of milled rice to China during the
Jan.-Feb. period this year, up 32 percent over the same period last year, it
said, adding that Chinese market absorbed 38.6 percent of Cambodia's total rice
export.
According to the report, Cambodia rice export to the European
markets declined by 33 percent during the period because the European Union, in
January, imposed tariffs on rice going from Cambodia in a bid to curb a surge
in rice imports from the kingdom.
The Southeast Asian nation shipped 33,969 tons of rice to Europe
in the first two months of this year, down 33 percent over the same period last
year, the report said.
Cambodia produces around 10 million tons of paddy rice a year,
according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
India, Vietnam
attract fresh buying of rice
Reuters |
Published: 00:00, Mar 08,2019 | Updated: 23:54, Mar 07,2019
Workers unload sacks of rice from a
Vietnam cargo ship carrying some 12, 700 tonnes of rice, at the port in Manila
July 5, 2014. — Reuters photo
Rice export prices rose for both the Indian and Vietnamese
varieties this week, bolstered by a pick up in demand, while fresh supply and a
lack of interest from overseas buyers weighed on Thai rice prices.Prices for top exporter India’s benchmark 5 per cent broken parboiled variety rose for the first time in four weeks to $383-$386 per tonne from last week’s $378-$383 range.
‘Demand is good, especially in containers from west Africa market,’ Nitin Gupta, vice president, rice business at Olam India, said.
Also supporting the Indian variety, the rupee was at its firmest since the start of the year, slashing exporters’ returns from foreign sales and prompting them to raise prices.
Vietnam, the world’s third-largest shipper of the grain after Thailand, also saw prices for its 5 per cent broken rice variety gain to $355 a tonne from $345 last week.
‘The government said it would buy rice from farmers for stockpiling, and demand is also seen rising,’ a trader based in Ho Chi Minh City said.
‘However, increasing supplies from an ongoing harvest will likely keep prices from rising further.’
The winter-spring harvest in the Mekong Delta will peak at the end of this month.
The country’s central bank earlier this week asked local commercial banks to lower their lending rates to 6 per cent for short-term loans to farmers, rice processors and exporters to help absorb the winter-spring output.
‘Malaysia is buying, and we have also been approached by customers from China and the Philippines, who are seeking to buy Vietnamese rice,’ another trader said.
In Thailand, benchmark 5 per cent broken rice prices eased to $380-$390, free on board Bangkok, from last week’s $383-$398.
Fresh supply and the weakening of the domestic currency contributed to the price dip, while demand remained flat, traders said.
‘There are now talks that there could be a drought during this dry season and that could impact supply next quarter,’ a trader said.
‘Exporters are still looking to the Philippines for a possible deal, but so far things have remained quiet.’
Meanwhile, summer rice output in Bangladesh is expected to hit 19.62 million tonnes from 19.57 million tonnes last year, Mizanur Rahman, a senior official of Department of Agriculture Extension, told Reuters.
The summer-sown crop, also known as ‘Boro’, usually contributes more than half of Bangladesh’s typical annual rice production of around 35 million tonnes.
Bangladesh, the world’s fourth largest producer, saw imports surge in 2017 after floods wrought havoc on local crops, prompting the country to act to shore up domestic reserves.
Rice may
drop to P25 per kilo as imports flood market – NEDA exec
By
-
MANILA – Rice may cost as low as P25 per kilo once imports start
arriving in markets, an official of the National Economic and Development
Authority (NEDA) said Tuesday.
NEDA undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon allayed concerns that poor
people may no longer have access to cheap rice once the National Food Authority
stops selling subsidized rice priced at P27 to the public.
The NFA is supposed to stop selling subsidized rice in adherence
to the Rice Industry Modernization Act, which takes effect Tuesday, March 5.
Edillon, however, said that imported rice will push prices lower
than the NFA’s selling price.
“Pwedeng maging mas mura pa,”
Edillon said.
She said the landed cost of cheap rice from Vietnam is currently
around P18 per kilo.
Adding the 35 percent tariff to this would push the cost of
imported rice to P24.30.
Factoring in traders’ profits would put rice prices at around
P25 to P26, assuming that there is no collusion among traders, said Edillon.
“Ang importante lang dito ay marami ang magko-compete sa merkado. Dapat talaga walang maging
monopolya,” said Edillon.
The NEDA official also assured that there would be competition
in the market as there are already a number of players interested in the rice
trade.
She added that the Philippine Competition Commission can also
come in if there are signs that the rice market is not seeing competition.
Edillon also said that farmers will also benefit from the new
law as the tariffs collected will go used to modernize the rice industry
through the Rice Competitiveness Enhance Fund.
Farmers groups have called for the scrapping of the Rice
Industry Modernization law, saying cheap imported rice will drive local rice
farmers out of business. (ABS-CBN
News)
Rice millers at wits' end over Bernas' monopoly
Bernama | Published: | Modified:
Its president, Mohamad Termizi
Yop, said that, of the 203 mills which were operating prior to this, only 15
were still operational in Perak, Kedah and Perlis.
He said that the Malay rice
millers who were still operating, however, faced various issues including being
shackled with debts with banks and Bernas, in addition to dealing with court
actions from Bernas for failing to settle their debts.
“Private rice mills sell rice to
Bernas at RM2,000 per tonne while the cost borne by the mills is RM2,080 per
tonne. We suffer losses and are forced to borrow to continue operating.
“The situation of the rice
millers is getting worse following the issue of the Bernas monopoly... we
propose that a special neutral committee be set up to ensure the continuity of
the mills," he told a press conference in Alor Setar.
Mohamad Termizi said the
government also needed to investigate transparently and in detail matters
related to the issue of the Bernas monopoly which was seen as oppressing the
other millers.
He said a special programme also
needed to be created to help and revive the bumiputera rice millers for the
sake of the continuity of their operations in the long term.
On Jan 22, Agriculture and
Agro-based Industry Minister Salahuddin Ayub said the government would not be
hasty in deciding over the issue of monopoly as Bernas' contract with the
government would only end in 2021.
He said the cabinet had agreed to
break the Bernas monopoly and a special committee, chaired by the Economic
Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali and comprising eight ministries, was trying to
draw up a new model to replace Bernas.
Govt should strictly control illegal
rice export
PUBLISHED 8 MARCH 2019
SOE MIN HTIKE
The
government should strictly control illegal rice export to foreign countries,
said Upper House MP Tun Tun Oo representing Mandalay Region No 2 Constituency.
Upper House MP Tun Tun Oo raised a question about “How to control illegal rice export to neighbouring countries through the border routes.”
Regarding the question, Deputy Minister Aung Htoo of the Ministry of Commerce, replied only surplus rice was allowed to be exported to foreign countries. Those who were exporting illegal rice to foreign countries were being arrested. The authorities seized illegal rice export for 14 times at 16-mile check point on Mandaly-Muse road and ten times at Yaypu Amyetan check point from 2017-2018 FY to 2018-2019 FY. It was difficult to stop illegal rice export due to the lack of prevalence of law and order.
The trucks carrying illegal rice are being seen passing through Mandalay. Rice is the raw for making snack and feedstuff. The government should control border routes as much as it can. It should effectively deal with illegal rice export through border routes, said MP Tun Tun Oo.
Upper House MP Tun Tun Oo raised a question about “How to control illegal rice export to neighbouring countries through the border routes.”
Regarding the question, Deputy Minister Aung Htoo of the Ministry of Commerce, replied only surplus rice was allowed to be exported to foreign countries. Those who were exporting illegal rice to foreign countries were being arrested. The authorities seized illegal rice export for 14 times at 16-mile check point on Mandaly-Muse road and ten times at Yaypu Amyetan check point from 2017-2018 FY to 2018-2019 FY. It was difficult to stop illegal rice export due to the lack of prevalence of law and order.
The trucks carrying illegal rice are being seen passing through Mandalay. Rice is the raw for making snack and feedstuff. The government should control border routes as much as it can. It should effectively deal with illegal rice export through border routes, said MP Tun Tun Oo.
Translated and Edited by Win Htut
Shrink in rice,
wheat areas pulls down rabi sowing
Barley cultivation has picked up momentum with acreage touching
7.25 lh, about 9.5 per cent more than 6.6 lh covered in same period last year.
File photo
- The Hindu
The drought
conditions prevailing in Maharashtra and Karnataka seem to have had adversely
affected coarse cereals and pulses cultivation
The total sown area under the current rabi crops came down
significantly by almost 30 lakh hectares (lh) to 604 lh with the area under
wheat and rice shrinking by almost 10 lh each as compared to what was estimated
about two weeks ago. According to the 4th advanced estimates of 2017-18, the
total rabi area last year was 628.25 lh.
As per the second advance estimates of sowing area released by
Agriculture Ministry on Thursday that total cropped area in the current rabi
season is 604.29 lh as against 636 lh estimated on February 22. While the
acreage under wheat was revised from 300 lh to 291 lh, that of rice came down
from 49.42 to 39.57 lh. Wheat and winter rice cultivated areas in 2017-18
295.78 lh and 44.36 lh respectively. The winter rice cultivation is down by
nearly 10.8 per cent as compared to last year, while wheat acreage is down by
1.7 per cent.
The drought conditions prevailing
in Maharashtra and Karnataka seem to have had adversely affected coarse cereals
and pulses cultivation. While the coarse cereals cultivation is down by 14.5
per cent, that of pulses is lower by 5.2 per cent as compared to the
corresponding period last year.
The area under jowar cultivation is 24.54 lh, which is 20 per
cent lower than 30.65 lh planted in 2017-18. Maize, on the other hand, is
planted on an area of 15.87 lh, which is 14.2 per cent less than 18.49 lh
covered in last year as per the 4th advance estimates of 2017-18. Barley
cultivation, however, has picked up momentum with acreage touching 7.25 lh,
about 9.5 per cent more than 6.6 lh covered in same period last year.
Substantial reduction in gram cultivation in Maharashtra will
seriously dent the production this year. As against 105.61 lh sown in 2017-18,
the gram acreage in this rabi season is 96.75 lh. Urad and moong planting too
are down by 3 per cent each to 9.14 lh and 9.42 lh respectively. Lentil
cultivation too is down by 3.8 per cent to 14.95 lh as compared to 15.54 lh in
2017-18.
Oilseeds is probably the only crop which has reported a higher
acreage as compared to last rabi season. The increase is mainly due to a 4.7
per cent uptick in mustard cultivation. Mustard/rapeseed cultivation in
Rajasthan has helped mustard to cross 62 lh. The total area under oilseeds over
75 lh, which is 3 per cent more than the area sown in the last rabi season
season.
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/shrink-in-rice-wheat-areas-pulls-down-rabi-sowing/article26459509.ece
Trends Could
Create Opportunity for Rice in Europe
Richard
Kägi and friend
Mar 08, 2019
BERN,
SWITZERLAND – The Swiss Rice Federation (RISO) gathered here this week for
their annual meeting to discuss the Swiss rice market in particular, as well as
the EU rice supply situation in general and current trends. Rice
importers and international corporations participated in the meeting,
including: Mars Foods Schweiz, Reismühle Brunnen, La Riseria, Stutzer and Co
Ag., Riso Gallo Spa.
International Food scout Richard Kägi presented valuable insights into food marketing and trends in Switzerland and how rice fits into the picture of healthy eating and consumer demand.
He explained that rice should capitalize on the current European trend of eating less meat by vying for space on the plate vegetables are currently taking. Kägi says the less-meat trend is not necessarily being driven by people choosing a vegetarian lifestyle, rather that it is consistent with consumers in wealthy European countries opting to eat meat only one or two times per week, but then splurging on very high-quality cuts and types of meat.
“We also heard consumers are interested in relating to their food, so telling the story of the food product is very important,” said USA Rice’s Eszter Somogyi who attended the meetings. “Social media and food and lifestyle influencers will be key in telling the rice story.”
Switzerland imports 600-700 MT of U.S. rice annually, including long and medium grain varieties, which are sold as identified U.S. rice in mainstream retail as well as Asian specialty wholesale and retail chains. Rice as a main dish here is dominated by Risotto thanks to the heavy Italian influence in the country.
International Food scout Richard Kägi presented valuable insights into food marketing and trends in Switzerland and how rice fits into the picture of healthy eating and consumer demand.
He explained that rice should capitalize on the current European trend of eating less meat by vying for space on the plate vegetables are currently taking. Kägi says the less-meat trend is not necessarily being driven by people choosing a vegetarian lifestyle, rather that it is consistent with consumers in wealthy European countries opting to eat meat only one or two times per week, but then splurging on very high-quality cuts and types of meat.
“We also heard consumers are interested in relating to their food, so telling the story of the food product is very important,” said USA Rice’s Eszter Somogyi who attended the meetings. “Social media and food and lifestyle influencers will be key in telling the rice story.”
Switzerland imports 600-700 MT of U.S. rice annually, including long and medium grain varieties, which are sold as identified U.S. rice in mainstream retail as well as Asian specialty wholesale and retail chains. Rice as a main dish here is dominated by Risotto thanks to the heavy Italian influence in the country.
Farmers say Vietnamese rice variety gives better returns
- 8
Mar 2019 at 12:48 16 comments
- WRITER: SUNTHORN
PONGPAO
- +
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.
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Farmers say Vietnamese rice variety gives
better returns
- 8
Mar 2019 at 12:48 16 comments
- WRITER: SUNTHORN
PONGPAO
- +
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.
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