Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai conducted a rice inspection following an invitation from the Association of Thai Agricultural Product Surveyors.

 

The association, keen to dispel allegations regarding the quality of rice held under the contentious rice-pledging scheme, orchestrated an eventful visit to warehouses owned by Poonpon Trading Ltd and Kittichai Ltd in different districts of the northeastern province.

 

Accompanied by three key stakeholders, warehouse owners, provincial commerce officials, and representatives from the Public Warehouse Organisation, Phumtham meticulously inspected the rice stocks. In a twist that surprised many, the verdict emerged: the rice, despite its age, retained its quality.

 

“We need to release this rice to the market as soon as possible.”

 

Phumtham highlighted the opportune moment given the current decent rice prices. This decision, he claimed, would not only secure government profits but also alleviate various stakeholders’ concerns.

 

The rice-pledging scheme, initiated by former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra post the 2011 election, aimed to empower Thai farmers by offering higher prices for their crops. However, the scheme was marred by controversy, with accusations of significant financial losses and substandard storage practices rampant, reported The Nation.

 

According to the Association of Thai Agricultural Product Surveyors, Poonpon Trading’s warehouse harbours 32,879 bags of rice, while the Kittichai facility accommodates a whopping 112,711 bags, each bag weighing 50 kilogrammes.

 

In related news, an upward trend in rice exports from Thailand to Hong Kong and China is anticipated this year, with a particular demand for riceberry and brown rice. This expectation is driven by the global economic recovery and a discerning preference for high-quality rice grains. Thailand is also aspiring to establish a distribution centre in Shenzhen to bolster its market presence.

 

In other news, a downward shift is projected for Vietnam’s rice exports in the current year, with estimates ranging between 6.5 and 7.0 million metric tonnes. This is a noticeable drop from the previous year’s record high of 8.1 million tonnes, as reported by the Vietnam Food Association.

 

By Mitch Connor

Caption: Photo courtesy of The Nation

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-03-15

 

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hmm, why now i wonder? 

 

Yummy.

 

6 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Interesting timing. Seems like Yingluk's return is imminent. Once again I must congraulate The Thaiger GPT on an excellent AI written article. Well done and please keep up the stupendous journalistically written articles word salads.🥱

 

but this headline didn't have a catch phrase. 

Just now, stoner said:

 

but this headline didn't have a catch phrase. 

Agree. Here's one: Thailand: The Hub of Decade Old Rice.

2 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Agree. Here's one: Thailand: The Hub of Decade Old Rice.

 

finally some luck returns. 

Certainly, even rice that's properly stored has a sell by date beyond which it's no longer fit (or even safe) for humans.  And it's a big assumption that it's been stored properly.  I recall the horrendous photos of spoiled rice from just before Ms. Yingluck hit the road.

If they do sell it, I hope it'll be with full disclosure where it came from and its vintage.  But I had to chuckle even typing that.

 

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

Interesting timing. Seems like Yingluk's return is imminent. Once again I must congraulate The Thaiger GPT on an excellent AI written article. Well done and please keep up the stupendous journalistically written articles word salads.🥱

Written by AI ,call it being picky, but a sack of rice in one of these warehouses weighs 90 kg not 50 kg, again I am having my doubts about AI.

If they market it correctly, they can make a killing in China where special teas can go for upwards of $150,00/kg at auction.

 

Market this as some ancient, vintage, specially aged, limited edition extra virgin rice.  Sell it in 500g bags, specially tagged, with a single golden thread in the weave.  Call it dragon's breath rice or some similarly auspicious name.

 

Maybe offer the Chinese a special deal..........one warehouse of dragon breath rice in exchange for a submarine and two frigates!

mouldy old rice should be good for making lao khao or for a starter for psychaedelics ergots  and selling it to USA druggies

Will it be a condition of Yingluck’s return that she has to eat some of this rice? 🤔

They will charge extra for it as it will have a higher protein content from all the bugs in it.

5 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Will it be a condition of Yingluck’s return that she has to eat some of this rice? 🤔

 

It should be a condition that those like Prayut & Prawit eat it the rest of their lives in a small jail cell...Since it was one of the claims they orchestrated to overthrow a legally elected government  ...Oh but wait they also created that Get Out OF Jail Free card 🙄

5 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Will it be a condition of Yingluck’s return that she has to eat some of this rice? 🤔

All of it 🍚🍚🍚

I am amazed that they still have rice in storage after 10 years!
I wonder what the average storage cost per Kg of rice works out at. Wouldn't surprise me at all if they won't recover the storage costs! 

This is total rubbish. AI or human. 

Rice will never "keep" for ten years.

What was the moisture content?

What colour were the tested grains?

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“We need to release this rice to the market as soon as possible.”

Count me out.... 

Comes with extra protein...

 

 

bugs, rat droppings

 

 

Charge extra for it.

 

 

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

According to the Association of Thai Agricultural Product Surveyors, Poonpon Trading’s warehouse harbours 32,879 bags of rice, while the Kittichai facility accommodates a whopping 112,711 bags, each bag weighing 50 kilogrammes.

 

13 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Interesting timing. Seems like Yingluk's return is imminent.

She should be made to eat this rice! 🤔

14 hours ago, stoner said:

 

finally some luck returns. 

called Ying?

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

However, the scheme was marred by controversy, with accusations of significant financial losses and substandard storage

Yay Yingluck is saved, Tony is well, two miracles in just one week,

Praise the Lord Saint Tony our blessed beloved savior has risen again. 

 

8 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Will it be a condition of Yingluck’s return that she has to eat some of this rice? 🤔

All the family should be made to eat it every day

If no one gets sick good luck for them

What next, nobody was actually ever hurt at Tak Bai? The Shins are really a family of saints and have been sorely misjudged by the negligent media? And so the rehabilitation continues...

11 minutes ago, Guderian said:

What next, nobody was actually ever hurt at Tak Bai? The Shins are really a family of saints and have been sorely misjudged by the negligent media? And so the rehabilitation continues...

 

Yep, no one was hurt at Tak Bai, it was all a misunderstanding. No one was murdered in the war on drugs, they were actually all suicides or accidents. His wife didn't buy prime land from the government at way below market value, he didn't approve a loan from a government bank to the military junta in Burma to buy his satellites, He did pay fair tax on his sale of Shin Corp, there was no corruption in the building of Suvaranbhumi, he didn't transfer shares to his drivers and maids to avoid declaring his wealth (it was an "honest mistake" as he said), he didn't get the BOI to approve tax breaks for Shin Corp etc etc

Hallelujah, the saint has returned! All hail Tony!!

8 hours ago, loong said:

I am amazed that they still have rice in storage after 10 years!
I wonder what the average storage cost per Kg of rice works out at. Wouldn't surprise me at all if they won't recover the storage costs! 

 

Who owns those big ol' warehouses?

What are they charging the government annually to store moldy, old rice?

 

Answer these questions and you might not be so amazed, Thailand.

Storing that stuff for a decade must have cost a multiple of the value of the rice. The scheme generating losses for the government? You bet. And yet they are talking about "profits" from selling the rice. There ain't no profits other than for the warehouse operators.

 

Why would they not have released some of this during the pandemic. 

I am sure there would have been plenty of households were a 50kg bag of rice, even in not mint condition, would have been welcomed.

 

After a quick Google search most comments were white rice had a shelf life of 2 years, but under the right storage conditions 10 years or more is possible. Biggest issue is moisture and temperature.