FARMERS at northeastern Khon Kaen province urged the government to help them as the price of one kilogramme of paddy rice is now only 6 baht, lower than a pack of instant noodles generally sold at 7 baht, Amarin TV said today (May 24).
This TV channel’s reporters went to Ban Kota village in Sila subdistrict, Mueang district, to survey the harvest in this area. Farmers have hired workers to help finish harvesting before the rains set in with the Thai Meteorological Department having warned of heavy rain for several days in a row from this weekend.
Farmers said while this year’s yield is adequate, the price of paddy rice is very low. The selling price is only 6 baht a kg, lower than the price of a pack of instant noodles generally sold for 7 baht.
This has become an issue with farmers feeling the inequality of Thai rice being cheaper than instant noodles.
Mr. Pongpichit Khunkota, 50, said he sold paddy rice at only 6 baht a kg. compared to last year when he got 8 to 10 baht a kg when the market opened.
Although the cost of fertilizer has decreased slightly, other production costs such as oil, transportation and harvesting have continued to increase.
“When comparing and seeing the picture of paddy rice going for only 6 baht a kg while Mama noodles cost 7 baht a pack – so selling a kg of rice is not enough to buy noodles. I feel disheartened but I can’t quit because it’s my profession.
“However, I implore the government to help push up paddy rice price to 10 baht a kg so that I can survive,” he said.
Ms. Amara Singhpim, 67, a farmer in the same area, said while the price of completely dry paddy rice is 6 baht a kg, this is cut to only 5 baht if it is still moist,
Meanwhile, production costs are high, including fertilizer and rice seed, with the latter having reached 900 baht a bag this year.
“This year, I got about 30,000 baht from selling paddy rice from a six-rai field, which yielded about 5 tons. This money is not enough for the next rice crop, so I have to find more. I want the government to quickly pay the 1,000 baht per rai assistance that was previously announced. Please help push the paddy rice price up to at least 8–9 baht per kg,” she said.
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Top and Front Page: Khon Kaen farmers harvesting paddy rice. Photos: Amarin TV
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