Officials inspecting government rice warehouses in
Chonburi found no evidence of corruption, as stockpiles at all seven
facilities matched reported levels.
Gov. Khomsan Ekachai led police and government officials in the June 27
checks at five warehouses in Chonburi City and two in Phanat Nikhom. The
facilities hold rice purchased from farmers through the national
government’s ruinous “rice-pledging” scheme that paid growers 50 percent
more than market prices and resulted in US$4.4 billion in government losses,
huge stockpiles of spoiled rice and rampant corruption.
Last month the government announced it would cut the
price it pays farmers 20 percent to 12,000 baht per tonne and crack down on
corruption, which usually took the form of government rice being secretly
resold by warehouse employees and local officials. However, this week the
government decided to keep the price at 15,000 baht per tonne, at least
until September.
Chonburi’s inspections, held on the last possible day allowed by a
government directive, found the province’s warehouses contained 84,394 tons
of rice, matching the amount reported to have been purchased by the
government. The stockpiled rice was also said to be in good condition,
unaffected by the mold, fungus and pesticide-fumigation that has plagued so
many exports that the United States has begun banning some Thai rice
imports. (CPRD)
