BANGKOK- The Ministry of Commerce is pushing for the accreditation of organic produce with the objective to increase organic exports to international markets. A pilot project on Riceberry rice has been launched.
Permanent Secretary for Commerce Chutima Bunyapraphasara said the ministry chose Riceberry rice due to its popularity. However, Riceberry rice farmers still found it hard to market the produce since their Riceberry rice production had not met organic standards, she said.
The ministry would educate the participating farmers and urge them to work together to plant Riceberry rice in line with standards, said the permanent secretary. 364 farmers have participated in the pilot project.
The project is seeking accreditation from the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements.
Thailand has more than 235,000 Rai of organic farms. Around 9,960 organic farms, or 0.15% of the total agricultural area, are certified. Thailand’s organic produce is worth more than 2.3 billion baht and its major markets include the EU, the U.S. and Singapore.
