Commerce Ministry expects to wipe out 10 million tonnes of rice from rice pledging scheme this year



BANGKOK: -- The Commerce Ministry has set a target to sell the remaining 10 million tonnes of rice bought under the Yingluck government’s rice pledging scheme within this year, commerce permanent secretary Ms Chutima Boonyaprapas said on Monday.

The remaining rice stockpiles are divided into three lots: over six million tonnes of PAA-grade or good quality rice; about two million tonnes of Grade C rice which are not suitable for human consumption; and about two million tonnes of rotten rice which are good for industrial use such as for producing ethanol.

Ms Chutima said that the Commerce Ministry would try to sell the 10 million tonnes of rice through every channel, including open auctions, G-to-G deals, direct sale to domestic and overseas customers and even donations.

The sale of the rice will help ease the government’s burden in management and storage, said the permanent secretary, adding that the ministry would try to sell as much rice as possible.

She noted that once the remaining rice in storage are sold out it would be known by then how much loss has been incurred to the state from the controversial rice pledging scheme.

Besides the six million tonnes of good quality rice, Ms Chutima admitted that it would not be easy to offload the rest of the rice which are not suitable for human consumption.

The ministry put on auction 37,400 tonnes of rotten rice some time ago and only 21,100 tonnes were sold to Wor Thanasap company at approximately five baht per kilogramme.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/167146-2/


-- Thai PBS 2016-06-14

I thought they had a big rice auction some little time ago hoping to get rid of some of this massive quantity of rice. I recall that ended up a shambles when the successful bidders found out the rice they had purchased was either rotten, didn't exist or wasn't up to specification. I trust their organisation skills have improved this time round.

How much does rice diminish in volume while stored for years?

When you said wipe out , i get the impression its worthless.

It will be good to draw a line under that scheme, finally.

over six million tonnes of PAA-grade or good quality rice

That's 60% of the remaining unsold pledged rice.

But Prayut's former DPM Panadda Diskul had declared in November 2014 after an NCPO rice audit of stored pledged rice that "just 12.2 per cent of rice stored in government warehouses under the rice-pledging scheme was up to standard."

In July 2014 the rice inspection committee reported to the Rice Policy Committee meeting that 80% of the 16 tons of stored pledged rice was in still good condition.

Did Diskul deliberately mistate the audit results, ie., to impeach/prosecute Yingluck?

over six million tonnes of PAA-grade or good quality rice

That's 60% of the remaining unsold pledged rice.

But Prayut's former DPM Panadda Diskul had declared in November 2014 after an NCPO rice audit of stored pledged rice that "just 12.2 per cent of rice stored in government warehouses under the rice-pledging scheme was up to standard."

In July 2014 the rice inspection committee reported to the Rice Policy Committee meeting that 80% of the 16 tons of stored pledged rice was in still good condition.

Did Diskul deliberately mistate the audit results, ie., to impeach/prosecute Yingluck?

Don't tell me, liberal arts student right? If only 12% of the total is good, and then you dump/sell/whatever most of the crap, it is quite possible that the good rice would be a higher percentage of what remains. Anybody got a set of Cuisenaire rods they can spare?

I'm really skeptical there is that much good rice remaining. They'll probably have to incinerate it in the cement kilns in Saraburi.

It was supposed to be 6 months from before the time of the last ballsup auction.

That was a couple of months ago wasn't it. So now it's 'the end of this year'?

Excellent time and project management. Peerless.

Thais performing exactly to expectations. Wait for the juntaphile excusers/dementers to put in an appearance to explain why it isn't the junta's fault at all and why it's probably Thaksin's fault.

Winnie

Edited June 14, 201610 yr by Winniedapu

It was supposed to be 6 months from before the time of the last ballsup auction.

That was a couple of months ago wasn't it. So now it's 'the end of this year'?

Excellent time and project management. Peerless.

Thais performing exactly to expectations. Wait for the juntaphile excusers/dementers to put in an appearance to explain why it isn't the junta's fault at all and why it's probably Thaksin's fault.

Winnie

So we should blame those trying to sell mostly low grade rice, and not those who paid far more than it was worth when fresh, then stored it for years paying storage fees exceeding its value, and allowing to degrade to its present state? Costing the nation billions, but allowing them to buy an election with false promises, and extending hardship on the economically illiterate years after they were forced from office?

Of course we should, she hasn't been convicted. Yet.

It was supposed to be 6 months from before the time of the last ballsup auction.

That was a couple of months ago wasn't it. So now it's 'the end of this year'?

Excellent time and project management. Peerless.

Thais performing exactly to expectations. Wait for the juntaphile excusers/dementers to put in an appearance to explain why it isn't the junta's fault at all and why it's probably Thaksin's fault.

Winnie

So we should blame those trying to sell mostly low grade rice, and not those who paid far more than it was worth when fresh, then stored it for years paying storage fees exceeding its value, and allowing to degrade to its present state? Costing the nation billions, but allowing them to buy an election with false promises, and extending hardship on the economically illiterate years after they were forced from office?

Of course we should, she hasn't been convicted. Yet.

It's not that complicated really.

Hold YL responsible for what happened when she was in power.

Blame Prayuth for what's happened while he's been in power.

I imagine most of the degradation has happened in the lastyt 2 years, but I'm not an export.

So.

Who should we blame?

Why, Thaksin - of course. Then the Tooth Fairy, and then the Thin Man or Freddie Kruger.

Obviously.

W