Bangkok: The Rice Department is taking swift action to develop high-yield rice varieties aimed at boosting the competitiveness of Thai rice on the global stage. This initiative comes as part of a multi-pronged strategy involving various stakeholders to address the current challenges faced by Thai rice farmers.
According to Thai News Agency, the Rice Department has embraced a proposal from farmers to create a multisectoral research team focused on developing rice varieties that promise higher yields, reduced production costs, and enhanced market potential. This move is crucial, given the concerns raised by the Rice Farmers Association, which highlights that existing Thai rice varieties fall short in terms of yield and cost-effectiveness. The association is calling on the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Commerce to promptly introduce support measures.
Mr. Anon Nonsi, Director-General of the Rice Department, recently engaged in discussions with the Thai Farmers and Agricultural Association. The meeting, attended by key figures such as Mr. Kriangsak Tapananon, Honorary Advisor to the association, and Mr. Pramote Charoensin, President of the association, sought collaborative strategies to enhance Thai rice production. Representatives from provinces including Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Nayok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Kamphaeng Phet, and Pathum Thani, along with Mr. Samart Atthong, President of the Thai Rice Seed Trade Association, were also present to contribute to the dialogue.
The Farmers' Association has put forward a proposal for the development of new rice varieties that can significantly reduce costs while increasing yields. Key characteristics of these desired varieties include disease and insect resistance, low fertilizer requirements, high grain yields per panicle, and a rapid development and certification timeline of 1-2 years, enabling farmers to swiftly adopt new varieties.
Mr. Kriangsak emphasized the need for integrated collaboration among government bodies, the private sector, academia, and farmers to drive research and breeding efforts that yield tangible results. He underscored that current rice varieties are inadequate in meeting both yield and cost criteria, necessitating a concerted effort to bridge this gap.
Mr. Pramote Charoensin highlighted the broader issues faced by farmers, notably escalating costs of fertilizers and pesticides, which compound the challenges posed by declining rice prices. With the current price of paddy rice plummeting to 45 baht per kilogram, or 4,000-5,000 baht per ton, against production costs of 5,500-6,000 baht per ton, many farmers face the prospect of financial instability. He urged the Ministry of Agriculture to expedite efforts in breeding higher-yield rice varieties and called on the Ministry of Commerce to implement measures to stabilize rice prices.