I doubt that imported rice is the main culprit in the difference between Thai produced rice (committed to the program) and storage figures. It might require some beauricrat getting out into the field and actually making an inventory.

The person assigned to do this physical job may need to be able to leave his mark on each facility so he is not returned to the same location from a different direction, without recongizing the fact, thus counting the same rice, twice. Typical, point a finger at some foreign influence (bad boys) and ignore your own nasties, hiding in plain sight.

Has anyone suggested converting the stockpile to sticky rice and lao khao yet?

The Thais might be rather amused to think that foreigners believe you can make sticky rice out of the plain variety.

It's a bit like converting pears into apples.

I doubt that imported rice is the main culprit in the difference between Thai produced rice (committed to the program) and storage figures. It might require some beauricrat getting out into the field and actually making an inventory.

The person assigned to do this physical job may need to be able to leave his mark on each facility so he is not returned to the same location from a different direction, without recongizing the fact, thus counting the same rice, twice. Typical, point a finger at some foreign influence (bad boys) and ignore your own nasties, hiding in plain sight.

Well having seen the wonderful accounting under the CAP system in Europe, I am sure the Thai's are far more inventive in terms of counting acreage, yield and moisture content.

Regarding rice prices:

2011-09-16

"Olarn said the government would spend about Bt400 billion on the rice-pledging scheme

He denied the policy would place a debt burden on taxpayers, as had past rice-pledging schemes implemented by Thai Rak Thai- and People's Power Party-led governments, to which the current Pheu Thai Party-led administration is seen as a successor.

The government has not yet compensated the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives for loans worth about Bt100 billion extended under past schemes.

Four Hundred Billion Baht....

and just like the Thai Rak Thai Party and the People Power Party, the Pheu Thai Party will also have taxpayers paying for it all.

Counting their debts drives it up to

Half A Trillion Baht.....

(Dig Deeper, Taxpayers)

.

The depth of the corruption of this government is staggering. I fear for Thailands future.