BURIRUM, 27 Nov 2014, The Internal Trade Office in Burirum Province has organized a weekly market buying paddy at higher prices than those currently offered in the market, with an aim to help ease the burden of local farmers.
The project is a joint efforts of the province’s Internal Trade Office, Krasang Agriculture Cooperatives Ltd., and a group of rice millers in the Central region. The weekly market is paying up to 13,400 baht for a ton of paddy, depending on the moisture content and quality of the grains. The price is considerably higher than that currently offered in the general market, which is in the range of 10-11 baht per kg., or between 11,000 and 11,000 baht a ton.
The market is meant to be an alternative for local farmers, as unscrupulous middlemen and rice millers have reportedly been taking advantage of them by offering to buy grains at much lower prices. More than 100 rice farmers so far have expressed their interests in selling their crops to the market.
According to the Provincial Internal Trade Office, the project provides a fair distribution channel for the farmers, adding that it plans to hold the market in 5 districts, which are Krasang, Kumuang, Nong Hong, Calermphrakiate and Muang Districts.
