The Commerce Ministry has delayed the next auction of rice from the government stockpile to avoid bringing down the price during the second-crop harvest.
Commerce Minister Chatchai Sarikulya said the domestic paddy price had declined during the harvest, so the ministry had delayed the third auction to prevent it sliding even lower.
According to the Office of Agricultural Economics, the price of ordinary white rice (15% moisture content) in Phitsanulok was 7,800 baht a tonne on Friday, and Hom Mali rice in Surin was at 13,000 baht.
He said the ministry expected the price would rise in the near future, because Thailand has an order to deliver 200,000 tonnes of rice to the Philippines and the Foreign Trade Department is in the process of selling two million tonnes to China.
Gen Chatchai said the ministry had ordered the setting up of 60 central farm markets nationwide to provide a direct marketing channel for farmers and ensure they get fair prices.