Committee endorses 4 rice projects worth over B50bn

The National Rice Policy and Management Committee has approved four projects worth more than 50 billion baht to maintain price stability and strengthen security for rice farmers.

- WICHIT CHANTANUSORNSIRI

According to Wittayakorn Maneenetr, director-general of the Department of Internal Trade (DIT), the committee approved a paddy sales postponement loan programme for the main 2025/2026 crop. Farmers are encouraged to store paddy in their own barns for 1-5 months, receiving a storage support payment of 1,500 baht per tonne, targeting 3 million tonnes total.

The maximum budget allocation is 9.30 billion baht.

The second project is a credit programme for paddy collection and value addition by agricultural institutions for the 2025/2026 season. The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) is providing low-interest loans to participating agricultural institutions, targeting 1.5 million tonnes in total, with a supporting budget of more than 656 million baht.

An interest compensation programme for rice traders who stockpile for 2-6 months in the 2025/2026 season offers government interest compensation of 3% annually, targeting 4 million tonnes in total, with a supporting budget of 642 million baht.

The final project is a support programme for rice farmers that promotes suitable cultivation practices. The scheme offers farmers 500 baht per rai, with a maximum of 10 rai, and consists of a budget of 18.9 billion baht.