Agencies instructed to rev up organic rice drive

The government has ordered responsible agencies to speed up the promotion of organic rice to raise the income of farmers and create sustainability in the farm sector.

According to Boonyarit Kalayanamit, the permanent commerce secretary, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as chairman of the National Rice Policy Committee ordered during a meeting on April 27 related agencies to rev up promotion of the second phase of the organic price promotion plans for 2022-25.

He said Gen Prayut also assigned responsible agencies to focus more on research, plant breeding and rice technology to upgrade farmers’ income and quality of life, while the government should be able to lower its financial burden for the price guarantee scheme over the long term.

Suthep Khongmak, a member of the National Rice Policy Committee who represents farmers, said the government’s promotional policy…