The Cabinet has decided to continue the organic rice promotion program until September 2023. The program provides a subsidy of 2,000 to 4,000 baht per rai, or 15 rai per participant, for three consecutive years to 94,888 farmers.
Approximately 847,400 rai of cropland are included in the program for the organic rice plantation.
Government Spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri stated that the program was originally scheduled to expire at the end of the fiscal year 2022, but that the Cabinet’s vote essentially extended another fiscal year to the term of the campaign.
The initiative with a budget of over 9.7 billion baht is anticipated to produce 400,000 metric tons of unmilled organic rice, empowering rice farmers while safeguarding the environment.
Notably, the Rice Department was unable to provide the subsidy amount in 2021 since the vast majority of organic rice products are harvested between November and December. As a solution, it was decided that the payment will be made within the fiscal year of 2023.
During a Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha remarked that the project was consistent with the Green Rice Project and the government’s Bio-Circular-Green Economy concept.
In addition, he tasked the Ministry of Commerce and associated organizations with improving the capacity to export Thai goods and promoting Thai organic rice via all channels, including internet commerce.
This would allow these items to reach customers more directly, according to the prime minister. In order to address the demands of customers of all ages, both locally and globally, it is equally vital to create marketing and processing techniques for organic rice products.