BANGKOK – The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has indicated the need for Thailand to secure the sustainability of rice supplies amid economic and climate changes.
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister General Chatchai Sarikalya presided over the opening ceremony of the Thai Rice Convention 2015 at Kasetsart University.
In his speech, Gen Chatchai said Thailand’s rice policy needs to adapt to the changing world, especially to the arrival of ASEAN Economic Community and free trade agreements. He believed that the new rice policy should be developed with rice farmers in mind, while also taking into account the risks, strengths and weaknesses of Thai rice. The minister added that rice farmers should reach more consumers by increasing their product value through innovation.
Gen Chatchai claimed that it is easy to improve Thai rice to suit consumers’ needs, as there is a wide variety of grains grown locally.
