Thailand seeks new rice varieties to reclaim position as rice export champ

[webfact]

 

By Paphamon Arayasukawat

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Thai government is now working with private firms to select and promote new varieties of Thai rice for export, as the Thai rice export figure has been in decline since last year.

 

The Rice Department and Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA) are seeking new varieties of Thai rice that could gain popularity with international customers and allow Thailand to reclaim its position as the rice export champion.

 

A contest will be held by the two organizations to select three rice varieties with properties superior to conventional varieties already on the market, with one variety in the fragrant rice category, one in the soft white rice category, and one in the hard white rice category.

 

Varieties eligible for the competition must be developed and refined in Thailand. Winners in each category will receive a 500,000 baht cash prize, plus an honorary plaque and certification from the Minister of Commerce.

 

After the contest, the TREA will file for plant variety protection of the winning rice varieties at the earliest opportunity, before promoting the cultivation of these rice.

 

Once prominent in rice exports to the world, Thailand has been seeing a decline in the quantity of rice exported as a result of greater competition. The country logged a 24% drop in the quantity of rice exports last year, compared to 2019.

 

The TREA President Pol Lt Charoen Laothamatas revealed today that Thailand exported only 1.5 million tons of rice in the first four months of this year, considerably lower than the two million tons target.

 

With rice exports of six million tons set as a target this year, the TREA president acknowledged the industry is now in recession, especially in sales of white rice, parboiled rice, and Hom Mali rice, which have been falling continuously.

 

Both the TREA and the Rice Department are anticipating their new rice variety contest will allow Thailand to increase its competitiveness in international markets.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-05-28

 

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[blackcab]

In this post, the reasons given by Charoen Laothamatas for the decline in rice exports were, "the strong baht, higher freight costs and lower domestic supply, caused by drought".

 

It's good that they are innovating, but perhaps these core issues also need addressing.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The Thai government is now working with private firms to select and promote new varieties of Thai rice for export, as the Thai rice export figure has been in decline since last year.

It's not the variety, it's the quality and price that matter.

[jobsworth]

What about healthy brown rice. It is hard to find in Bangkok. I guess that it would be cheaper than white rice 'cos the husk with all of its goodness has not been removed and so less attractive to Thai people. A friend told me to look out for German people 'cos where they are there is always brown rice.

 

[johng]

5 minutes ago, jobsworth said:

I guess that it would be cheaper than white rice

I understand that it's actually more expensive  because its  more difficult to keep the husk than to completely remove it  (NHK World Extreme Skills show I think )

[johng]

6 hours ago, blackcab said:

perhaps these core issues also need addressing.

 

Especially the strong Baht   70 to the Pound would be nice ????

[RichardColeman]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

The country logged a 24% drop in the quantity of rice exports last year, compared to 2019.

Wonder if these people are connected with those spouting 13% export increases past qtr 

[kickstart]

8 hours ago, blackcab said:

In this post, the reasons given by Charoen Laothamatas for the decline in rice exports were, "the strong baht, higher freight costs and lower domestic supply, caused by drought".

 

It's good that they are innovating, but perhaps these core issues also need addressing.

Another problem ,comes up often  over in the farming forum ,the fertility of Thai soil ,yields have been dropping over the years as soil fertility drops .

A problem that need addressing before any  new varieties are released .

And ,will anyone tell the rice farmers about the new varieties, and get them to change from their  old ones, farmers are a bit reluctant to change from their  old ways.