Thailand’s Rice Department will celebrate this year’s “Rice and Farmer’s Day” by unveiling seven new strains of rice.
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will inaugurate this year’s ceremony and the department will unveil seven newly approved breeds of rice. The new rice strains include indigenous breeds that will soon be certified with Geographical Indicators as well as fast-growing strains that can be utilized outside of the rainy season.
The department revealed that June 5 of every year is “Rice and Farmer’s Day,” as well as the anniversary of the day when King Rama VIII, His Majesty King Ananda Mahidol, and King Rama IX, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, visited the rice farms of Bang Khen district and sowed rice seeds into the fields. It is an auspicious day for rice farming in Thailand and honors all rice farmers in the Kingdom.
The department Secretary-General revealed that there are currently 60 million rai of rice paddies in the Kingdom, tended by approximately 17 million farmers. Rice exports have generated approximately 200 billion baht in annual revenue.
