Thailand plans to develop 12 new commercial rice varieties by 2024 to boost rice export competitiveness.
Speaking after an award ceremony for new commercial rice varieties, Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said the ministry set up a war room to accelerate Thai rice development and increase exports, for both existing and new markets.
Of the 12 new varieties, Mr Jurin said four are hard-texture grains, four are soft texture, two are Thai fragrant rice and two are high-nutrition types. These varieties are in high demand among global consumers, he said.
“Thailand must be a leader in producing quality rice,” said Mr Jurin. The strategy requires focus on solving two problems: Thai rice can no longer compete on price and we have few varieties.
The national rice strategy calls for production costs to be reduced to an average of 3,000 baht per tonne, from 6,000 baht…
