BANGKOK, 24 July 2015 – The upcoming auction of 1.29 million tonne below-standard rice, set to open in late-July, is possibly delayed to early-August as the separation process of the below-standard rice from the good quality one would take time, Commerce Minister Chatchai Sarikulya said on Friday.
The rice separation is being carried out jointly by Commerce Ministry officials and experts from the National Farmers Council, the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) as well as rice surveyors and suppliers.
They have been assigned to screen spoiled rice and draw up the best approach and necessary budget for the whole process of rice separation. He disclosed that the bidding conditions must give the best benefits to the public.
Responding to a concern that rotten and fungal-contaminated rice would mix with rice for consumption, Chatchai said that the ToR of each rice auction will identify which industries the auctioned rice will be for, and officials will be assigned to follow up the process and destinations of the auctioned rice.
The minister also revealed that 400,000 – 500,000 tonnes of good quality rice for consumption kept in the government stock are likely to be auctioned before the end of July.
