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| Commerce Minister to Propose Distribution of Canceled Rice Lot Again |
| UPDATE : 4 February 2010 |
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The commerce minister plans to propose that the national rice policy committee reconsider the distribution of 375,000 tons of rice, which was canceled last month, adding that the next shipment of rice to Haiti will be carried out with transparency.
The Commerce Ministry canceled the distribution of 375,000 tons of rice near the end of last month, because participating private bidders offered very low prices.
Commerce Minister Porntiwa Nakasai said she would report to the national rice policy committee, chaired by Deputy PM Trairong Suwankiri, to explain the reason behind the cancellation.
Porntiwa stated that the rice distribution was canceled because private bidders offered very low prices. She added that she will propose the plan to distribute the rice again.
Following the first lot of 100 tons of rice sent to Haiti, another 4,000 tons of rice is scheduled to be sent this month. 16,000 more tons of rice is expected to be sent there in April.
The shipments are administrated by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, while the Commerce Ministry is in charge of packaging the rice.
Porntiwa assured that the requirements of the rice packagers will not be rigged as many speculate.
Regarding sending rice to help the Philippines after it was hit by Cyclone Nargis, she revealed that 100 tons of rice were sent and 520 additional tons are scheduled to be sent, but the second shipment has been delayed as it is unclear what kind of rice the Philippines wants. She assured that once the preference is clear, the rice will be sent there within ten days.
In a separate matter, the commerce minister presided over the opening of an annual organic farming fair, where 180 booths offer agricultural products cultivated by organic farms.
Agricultural agencies are present at the fair to provide information about organic farming.
It has been predicted that the value of the worldwide market of organic agricultural products is likely to reach 100 billion US dollars this year, while the value of annual domestic consumption of organic agricultural products in Thailand is at 3 billion baht.
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