BANGKOK, 19 June 2015 – The Ministry of Commerce plans to sell cheap rice to low-income earners via co-ops to help ease their financial burden.
The project is expected to require a budget of 100 million baht. About 5,000 tons of white rice will be sold in 2-kg packages to low-income earners through cooperatives across the country.
To ensure the target demographic has access to affordable rice, the Ministry of Interior will undertake a survey of low-income earners countrywide and forward the data to governors who will oversee distribution. The target number of customers is estimated at 200,000.
The Ministry of Commerce, the Public Warehouse Organization and the Department of Internal Trade have entered preliminary discussions over the management of the project, as well as appointing a rice quality improvement panel. Commerce Minister Gen Chatchai Sarikulya said the task should be completed within the next month.
