Govt to sell big lots of rice and paddy

[Lite Beer]

Govt to sell big lots of rice and paddy
The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK: -- The government plans to sell 500,000 tonnes of rice, plus a further 400,000 tonnes of paddy (unmilled rice) from its stockpiles each month, Commerce Minister Niwatthumrong Boonsongpaisan has said.

He said the ministry would next week announce bidding for people interested to buy the milled rice and paddy. The initial goal was to sell 500,000 tonnes of rice and 400,000 tonnes of paddy a month.

However, no conclusion has been reached about the sale of rice from government stockpiles in government-to-government deals, according to Niwatthumrong, who is also a deputy prime minister.

He said that in the next week or two, he would travel to Iran and other countries as part of an attempt to expand the Thai rice market overseas. The government also would expedite delivery of rice to countries where orders have been made, he said.

Figures about rice sales and exports would be available later.

Niwatthumrong was speaking during yesterday's weekly TV show "Yingluck Government Meets the People".

Meanwhile, senior officials yesterday also assured the public that Thai rice was safe to eat, following media reports and rumours in social media of possible hazards.

Department of Agriculture director-general Dumrong Jirasutas asserted that Thai rice was free from any toxic chemical or contamination, as has been rumoured on social media. He said that the agency had reliable modern devices to test the rice. Samples from 40 brands of Thai rice were collected for the latest test conducted on Friday, and it found that none contained any harmful residue.

He said the chemicals used to fumigate warehouses were approved by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Trade Organisation. And they had been in use for more than 80 years.

Food and Drug Administration secretary-general Boonchai Somboonsuk said during the programme that tests on 107 of 160 rice samples collected by the agency found no harmful chemicals. Tests on the remaining samples would be completed this week, he added.

-- The Nation 2013-07-14

[tominbkk]

Who wants to buy rotten poisoned rice?

[NongKhaiKid]

I hear music, all played on fiddles.

[bigbamboo]

I thought this has been the plan for some time now but no one is buying.

[chooka]

I hear music, all played on fiddles.

Agree the story did not mention anything positive apart from one statement

".Dumrong Jirasutas asserted that Thai rice was free from any toxic chemical or contamination." They have cleaned out all the rat pieces, weavils and other assorted contaminates. It has gone from some contamination to being free in a spate of 24 hours. These Thais really work fast.

[jalansanitwong]

Unlike in Thailand market forces apply when selling overseas. Heavens knows what price theyre going to get for this 'old' stockpile thats up against new rice in a surplus market place.

[NongKhaiKid]

I hear music, all played on fiddles.

Agree the story did not mention anything positive apart from one statement

".Dumrong Jirasutas asserted that Thai rice was free from any toxic chemical or contamination." They have cleaned out all the rat pieces, weavils and other assorted contaminates. It has gone from some contamination to being free in a spate of 24 hours. These Thais really work fast.

Nice one ! Thailand the hub of " speed ", interpret that at will.

[Soutpeel]

Wish they would make their mind up...how many samples have been tested

another report says 33

this report says 40

then FDA says 160...

He said the chemicals used to fumigate warehouses were approved by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Trade Organisation. And they had been in use for more than 80 years.

80 years ago...people believed radiation wasnt dangerous either...

[NeverSure]

Govt to sell big lots of rice and paddy

[LuckyLew]

since it is all rotten and poisoned ,,,

maybe they can serve it a Gov't house

or maybe dump it in the sewers to get rid of the rats in Bangkok

Oh wait ... that is why they should serve it at Gov;t house

[culicine]

Unlike in Thailand market forces apply when selling overseas. Heavens knows what price theyre going to get for this 'old' stockpile thats up against new rice in a surplus market place.

Wife tells me 'old' rice tastes better - it's softer.....so think only Thais will eat this old stockpiled rice, clean or not.

Also on the news there was soething about when you wash white rice and the water is off-colour (like having an orange tinge, throw it away

[Ricardo]

no conclusion has been reached about the sale of rice from government stockpiles in government-to-government deals

That's quite a step backwards, from all those claims made starting last year, that deals had been done and would be proceeding with delivery by the end of this year, isn't it ?

What went wrong ? Have those deals been moved to an inactive-position, or were they merely 'white lies', by the government ?

[happynthailand]

"Big" white lies

don't believe other countries believe them ,no body wants old moldey rice

[IsaanAndy]

no conclusion has been reached about the sale of rice from government stockpiles in government-to-government deals

That's quite a step backwards, from all those claims made starting last year, that deals had been done and would be proceeding with delivery by the end of this year, isn't it ?

What went wrong ? Have those deals been moved to an inactive-position, or were they merely 'white lies', by the government ?

What's gone wrong is that the Govt is buying at above free market rates and then trying to sell at above market rates when other countries e'g India and Vietnam are selling at market rates well below what Thailand wants to sell at to aviod losing even more money.

[Thai at Heart]

Don't get it. Why should any domestic company buy paddy at a price that's completely uneconomic?

In fact, some of these are public companies, wouldn't that be causing a damage to the company?

Edited July 14, 2013 by Thai at Heart

[Songhua]

Great plan. Who are the buyers?

(....travel to Iran and other countries as part of an attempt ...)

[madmitch]

There's no mention of price in the article so maybe the Government is willing to cut its losses and sell at a loss.

But if they follow the usual Thai logic they will price it too high and leave it sitting stockpiled until they can get the right price (which will be never).

Let's see.

[OzMick]

What price do they "plan" to get for it?

Do they "plan" to be accused of dumping?

[Robby nz]

Wasn't it only yesterday that 5 million tons had been sold to China and they wanted to speed up delivery?

[chooka]

"Big" white lies

don't believe other countries believe them ,no body wants old moldey rice

But it is old mouldy Thai Rice, so it is the best mouldy rice and others will start wars for it so that is why they are being selective who they sell it to.

[OzMick]

With the rising price of energy, perhaps it's time to start turning mouldy/old/excess rice into ethanol fuel. All they need to do is borrow a few billion more for distilleries; gotta be a percentage in that.

[rfukata]

when other countries who export white rice variations according to harvest under 'new crop' versus Thai rice which will be sold

as old rice and priced significantly higher, I just wonder who would be interested in buying old stuff and pity the locals who have

to eat old stuff.

[hellodolly]

Wish they would make their mind up...how many samples have been tested

another report says 33

this report says 40

then FDA says 160...

He said the chemicals used to fumigate warehouses were approved by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Trade Organisation. And they had been in use for more than 80 years.

80 years ago...people believed radiation wasnt dangerous either...

Nothing said about how much of these chemicals are safe to use and how much they are using.

There's no mention of price in the article so maybe the Government is willing to cut its losses and sell at a loss.

But if they follow the usual Thai logic they will price it too high and leave it sitting stockpiled until they can get the right price (which will be never).

Let's see.

They may face problems with charges of dumping.

The article said

"He said that in the next week or two, he would travel to Iran and other countries as part of an attempt to expand the Thai rice market overseas. The government also would expedite delivery of rice to countries where orders have been made, he said.

Wasen't that a trip Yingluck just made

Figures about rice sales and exports would be available later.

More than likely December 2157

Department of Agriculture director-general Dumrong Jirasutas asserted that Thai rice was free from any toxic chemical or contamination, as has been rumoured on social media. He said that the agency had reliable modern devices to test the rice. Samples from 40 brands of Thai rice were collected for the latest test conducted on Friday, and it found that none contained any harmful residue.

They also have reliable mine detectors.

What is a sample a pot full out of 50 ton's and you can bet your bottom baht it was not a pot full of last years rice.

[Bagwan]

Could not the rice be used to make saki? It might wean a few off cheap rot gut whiskey. Could not saki be stored almost indefinitely giving rise to a vintage system? What price would a bottle of Chateau Sukothai 2013 reach in 2025?

Edited July 14, 2013 by Bagwan

[tomross46]

What happened to the rice that was in the warehouses during the flood? Has it been written off? Is it still in the inventory? Is it molded, rotting and smelly? What is the value of this rice at time of purchase, befor after the flood?

Where is the transparency promised during the election?

Or is it that everyone in the know is afraid to tell the truth for fear of prosecution? Is it a case of shoot the messenger?

Could I find out the information on Wickieleaks?

[backtonormal]

Oh surprise surprise, yet another negative thread about rice. Who are these people who can dictate to the Nonsense newspaper.

[jaidam]

Oh surprise surprise, yet another negative thread about rice. Who are these people who can dictate to the Nonsense newspaper.

MTX276 ORIG BKK. CAPT>BTN confirm messenger shot -stop- awaiting permission to shoot him again -stop-

[OzMick]

Oh surprise surprise, yet another negative thread about rice. Who are these people who can dictate to the Nonsense newspaper.

I await with interest the positive news you have in regard to billions of baht being wasted/stolen.

[oyster]

Could not the rice be used to make saki? It might wean a few off cheap rot gut whiskey. Could not saki be stored almost indefinitely giving rise to a vintage system? What price would a bottle of Chateau Sukothai 2013 reach in 2025?

Valid point - as to price, the way the Baht is looking - not much, the way the pound is shaping up.....bloody thousands..............

[loong]

Could not the rice be used to make saki? It might wean a few off cheap rot gut whiskey. Could not saki be stored almost indefinitely giving rise to a vintage system? What price would a bottle of Chateau Sukothai 2013 reach in 2025?

What cheap rot gut whiskey?

Most Thais I know drink Low Kow, which they call Thai whiskey - and that is made from rice.