Farmers here in Latlumkaeo are selling their rice for ฿6000 per ton over the weekend. Less than production cost, some rice fields have been lost due to high salt content in the irrigation canals, we are about 20km the Chao Phraya river.

Unfortunately this is the tip of the iceberg.

I put a link to this topic in the farming forum, sorry mods!

A couple of things here;

1. 6000 per ton, yet I read a recent news story that the price is set at 8000. Who is buying at this cut-throat rate then making a cool 33% just for being middleman?

2. Do farmers not test the water before irrigating?

My heart goes out to them.

I think the commercial grade - non organic rice- is sold to whoever will buy it. the distributors may well make some sort of cut for the polishing , packing etc. Its not all cut throat, everyone needs to eat their lunch.

water is water, can you imagine a farmer testing water, its water, why expect high salt content? why expect high COD opr BOC? why are they not using municipal recycle? if you are a poor farmer you are not going to expect anything.

As usual worldwide, the middlemen get the mine, the farmers get the shaft. I don't understand this.

The millers need about 2,000 baht per ton for handling, cleaning, milling, packaging, shipping and a reasonable profit.

Yes it's a mess for the farmers but the world price has dropped and the millers get paid FOB at the ship yards.

A real problem for Thai farmers are the cartels/mafia who control the price of seed, fertilizer, other chemicals, etc. which drive production cost up higher than neighboring countries.

There are also the vulture lenders if the farmer needs to borrow to plant and grow the crop.

As usual worldwide, the middlemen get the mine, the farmers get the shaft. I don't understand this.

When costs out weigh the cash from the sale of rice don't plant it ! or plant juist enough for food, another fk-up caused by the rice pledging scheme with the FARMERS getting shafted instead of rich, and this situation will continue for the next couple of years unfortunatly........................

When costs out weigh the cash from the sale of rice don't plant it ! or plant juist enough for food

not so easy when that's all you have, all you know

The millers need about 2,000 baht per ton for handling, cleaning, milling, packaging, shipping and a reasonable profit.

Yes it's a mess for the farmers but the world price has dropped and the millers get paid FOB at the ship yards.

A real problem for Thai farmers are the cartels/mafia who control the price of seed, fertilizer, other chemicals, etc. which drive production cost up higher than neighboring countries.

There are also the vulture lenders if the farmer needs to borrow to plant and grow the crop.

Vulture lenders....

You got that right. Bloody thieves are what they are.

Bargain! Where can I buy some?