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Agriculture
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2007-09-30 06:38:08-04
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More Thai farmers growing glutinous rice
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BANGKOK, Sept 29 - More farmers in Thailand's Northern and Northeastern regions have now switched to growing glutinous 'sticky' rice following a higher demand from China, which has automatically pushed up its prices, a senior Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry official said. Monthol Jeamcharoen, deputy secretary-general of Office of Agricultural Economics, said the market price of high quality glutinous rice rose by more than 3,000 baht per tonne to a new record high of Bt10,715 per tonne during the 2006/2007 season from Bt7,612 last year after China imported 50,000 tonnes of sticky rice from Thailand.
There is no sign that the price will decline, at least in the near future, Mr. Monthol said. Farmers in the North and Northeast regions usually sell glutinous rice in the latter part of every year after setting aside stocks for their own consumption, he said, adding that farmers in both regions have now grown more glutinous rice rather than flagrant 'khao hom mali' rice following China's increased demand.
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