The Commerce Minister outlined Thai rice strategies under public-private cooperation by improving new rice varieties and certifying 21 rice varieties, allowing Thai rice exporters to more realistically export markets. After this, Thai rice exports on the rise should reach 8 million tons, ready for all parties to work together to develop new varieties of Thai rice. to increase even though Thailand is facing drought in some areas But new rice varieties have a chance to market.

Mr. Jurin Laksanawisit, Deputy Prime Minister And the Minister of Commerce revealed that the Thai rice strategy from 2020, which will end in 2024, has important goals. That will make Thailand a leader in the production and marketing of rice and quality rice products of the world. To be successful, a production-led market strategy is required. Emphasis on market development in foreign countries Use production and processing and bring innovation to benefit And must produce a variety of rice varieties to meet the needs of the world market. Increase the competitiveness of Thai rice.

By working together with the private sector This shows that Thailand is weak in the lack of variety of products offered in the world rice market. while competitors have more products Thailand therefore needs to speed up and close the weaknesses to achieve results as soon as possible. By accelerating the addition of new types of rice products to compete in the world rice market And from the goal of the 5-year rice strategy, there must be a total of 12 rice varieties developed, comprising 4 hard-ground rice, 4 soft-ground rice, 2 aromatic rice varieties, and 2 high-nutrition rice varieties. But the first 3 years of the strategy Thai rice under the cooperation of public and private sectors Able to improve rice varieties more than the target and certified rice varieties under the strategy, at this time, a total of 21 varieties. In the remaining two years, the Thai Rice Exporters Association Continue to hold a contest for new rice varieties continuously. Which today has awarded the latest commercial rice breeding competition for 3 varieties After this, he asked the Rice Department to speed up the certification of the species. in order to be able to plant plots for farmers to bring their products to exporters to be able to continue to market abroad

However, it is still confident that rice exports will improve accordingly because there will be a wider variety of products to be offered for sale. which last year exported 7.7 million tons, this year is expected to surpass 8 million tons for sure Because the variety of rice varieties will increase the number continuously and enable Thailand this year to be able to return to the second place in the world's rice export market. Even now, Thailand still faces drought problems in some areas. But with the diversity of Thai rice varieties, it can compensate for the export market without any problems.

In addition, information from the Department of Foreign Trade indicates that this year there are rice varieties that have won the new commercial rice contest, namely:

1. Winner Thai Fragrant Rice: rice variety 65RJ-06 by Ruamjai Pattana Krua Co., Ltd. (Ruamjai Pattana Foundation).

2. Winner Soft ground white rice is rice variety 65RJ-08 produced by Ruamjai Pattana Krua Co., Ltd. (Ruamjai Pattana Foundation).

3. Winner The type of white hard ground rice is rice variety 65RJ-13 by Ruamjai Pattana Krua Co., Ltd. (Ruamjai Pattana Foundation), etc.

Mr. Chookiat Ophaswong, President of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, believes that rice exports in the second half of the year have a better trend. Because the world's demand for rice is still there. Part of the weather It is quite clear that El Niño will occur. in many regions around the world, which will affect the rice production sector causing the purchase of rice to be stocked to meet the needs of the country Obviously from Indonesia which this year has announced to import 2 million tons of rice, while the main competitor like Vietnam 4 million tonnes of rice were exported in the first half of the year, which is expected to have about 3 million tonnes of rice left for export in the second half of the year.

By admitting that Thailand May produce some rice from El Niño. but also believe Thai production is still good. Because the rice production is 20 million tons of rice per year. But consumed within 10-11 million tons, so there is still a certain amount left to export and Thailand still has a contract to export rice to China from the 1 million ton frame under the state to state or G2G that is still pending another 2 hundred thousand 80,000 tons that should be exported more this year for the first half of the year in Thailand About 4 million tons of rice have been exported and another 4 million tons are expected in the second half of the year. Overall this year, Thailand will definitely export at least 8 million tons of rice. How far

Source: Thai News Agency