Thai rice cuts pose problems

Thailand’s recent announcement of a 20 per cent price cut within the government rice-pledging scheme will have little impact for Cambodian exports, but farmers may feel the effects, say industry insiders. In an article published in the Bangkok Post on June 19, Thailand’s cabinet had agreed to reduce the price paid to rice farmers, from 15,000 baht ($490) to 12,000 baht per tonne. Sok David, vice president of Golden Rice Cambodia told the Post yesterday that he does not think the reduced price will affect the Cambodian rice industry yet as it is still higher than paddy prices in Cambodia. … On average, the price of Thai’s fragrant rice is $1,150 per tonne, $100 to $150 higher per tonne than Cambodian fragrant rice. … Cambodia has about three million hectares for paddy cultivation producing about 9 million tonnes per year in both the rainy and dry seasons.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/2013062166407/Business/thai-rice-cuts-pose-problems.html