Illustrative image (Source: bangkokpost.com)Bangkok (VNA) – A committee considering the draftrice law of Thailand had showed optimism that a revised version of the billwill satisfy all relevant parties when it was put into the second debate at theNational Legislative Assembly (NLA) on February 26.
Chair of the NLAcommittee Marut Patchotasing ledother panellists in discussing the revised bill at a news conference onFebruary 25, according to Bangkok Post.
He stressed how it is not meant to undermine farmers, but rather boost statemechanisms to develop farmers and strengthen rice production and markets.
The legislation will help ensure farmers are notexploited, he added.
Regarding Section 6, five farmer representativeswould be allowed to sit on the 14-person committee on rice policy andmanagement, according to Marut.
The panel, based on Section 12, is responsiblefor ushering in measures that would help address problems facing farmers, andpursue various developments for growers.
He said Section 21 of the bill offers ways ofdesignating suitable rice zones within three years.
The bill's opponents have mainly taken aim atSection 27, however, which they claim prohibits the trading of rice seeds notapproved by the Rice Department.
Amidst the gloomyglobal economy and low consumption of rice, the Foreign Trade Department ofThailand Ministry of Commerce is still confident on the competitiveness of Thairice in the global market.
In 2019, thedepartment will deploy promotion campaigns targeting major Asian markets suchas Hong Kong, Singapore, China, the Philippines and Indonesia.
The Thai Ministry of Commercereported that in 2018, despite fall in exports, Thailand still completed itstarget of 11.13 million tonnes in export volume and 5,62 billion USD in value,the same as that in 2017.
This year, Thailand aims to export 10 million tonnesof rice, while seeking ways to enhance export value and encouraging farmers to producehigh quality rice and rice types with high demands.-VNA
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