BANGKOK, 12 May 2013 The Ministry of Commerce will not extend the cassava pledging scheme for the 2012-2013 crop.
Internal Trade Department (ITD) Director-General Wiboonlasana Ruamraksa revealed that the Tapioca Policy Committee meeting had turned down the Cassava Growers Association’s request that it extend the cassava subsidy for the 2012-13 season, which ran from Oct 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013.
The ITD director-general reasoned that the price of cassava root was 2.72 baht per kilogram at the end of the pledging program, considered high when compared to the actual market price of 2.70 – 3 baht.
Tapioca chip and starch are quoted at 7.10 and 14 baht per kilogram respectively, which also considered high by the government.
Ms. Wiboonlasana added that the decision was made to prevent unscrupulous traders who have been found hoarding cassava from participating in the scheme.
