Organic rice farmers in the Northeast are seeking help from the government, as farming has been affected by the government's rice-pledging scheme.
A woman carries seedlings on an organic rice farm in Surin province. Rice authorities are worried that the pledging programme for non-organic grains will entice organic growers away and are asking the government for assistance measures.
The high prices offered under the pledging programme launched last October have led some farmers to sell organic paddy to millers, which help the government store rice under the the scheme.
The trend has eventually harm the quality of organic rice.
"Rice millers just process and store the rice but do not obtain organic verification. Therefore, milled rice from organic paddy could not be claimed as organic," said Sitthiporn Bangkaew, a commercial officer in Surin province.
Mr Sitthiporn, also director of the Commerce Ministry's Commerce Intelligence Unit, which oversees organic farming, said some proposals from a meeting between farmers and officials will be submitted to the government in order to preserve organic rice cultivation.
The suggestions include providing financial assistance for farmers in the form of farm essentials.
The government may come up with additional measures such as introducing a pledging programme exclusively for organic paddy. Millers for organic produce must also meet organic standards and properly verified.
These additional measures would help save Thailand's organic industry and prevent a possible collapse.
Surin is among the provinces in the Northeast that farms organic rice.
The region produces more than 30,000 tonnes a year on a combined plantation area of more than 100,000 rai, making it a popular place to cultivate the rice.
"The pledging plan is good for farmers, but we're worried the scheme will disrupt organic rice farming unless the government implements some measures to sustain it," he said.
The government launched the pledging scheme last year, offering 15,000 baht a tonne for white paddy rice and 20,000 baht for fragrant Hom Mali rice.
These prices are 40% higher than current market levels.
Mr Sitthiporn said most organic rice is fragrant varieties, and farmers earn 1,000 to 3,000 baht more a tonne.
Hence, organic Hom Mali paddy had been sold at 12,000 to 15,000 baht a tonne before the pledging programme began. But it is far lower than 20,000 baht offered under the pledging scheme.
Mr Surin said buyers of organic rice are unable to match the government offers, citing weak demand for the products.
This has prompted farmers to sell organic paddy to the state in order to enjoy the higher income.
"But some farmers are willing to get, say, 18,000 baht a tonne to preserve organic farming," he noted.
Wanlop Pichpongsa, secretary-general of the Thai Organic Trade Association, feels the rice pledging scheme will significantly slow the expansion of organic produce.
Mr Wanlop is also an executive of Capital Rice Co Ltd, which manages about 6,000 rai of organic rice farms in the North under a contract-farming model.
"High payment under the scheme could draw away new farmers from taking part in organic farming," said Mr Wanlop.
But he cautioned farmers to think carefully before returning to traditional farming to enjoy the populist policy of the government.
Organic farming takes at least three years to ensure farmlands are chemical-free, and much care is also required, as no hazardous substances can be used.
said Mr Wanlop said it is not certain the government can carry out the scheme for long due to its expense and the mounting stock of rice held by the state right now.
As it has vowed to pledge "every grain" regardless of quality, farmers have rushed to mortgage paddy with state agriculture officials with no intention of redeeming the grain, as market prices have never come close to the pledging prices.
Since then, the pledging plan, which is continuing for a second round this year, has a combined 16.5 million tonnes of paddy costing more than 250 billion baht.
A trader source said while the pledging plan led to a 45% drop in Thai rice exports in the first half of this year, it did not help push up market prices.
Paddy prices have moved up slowly despite the intervention being in place for nearly 10 months now.
The Thai Rice Millers Association said white paddy with 15% moisture or a high-quality variety was sold last week in Phichit province at 11,200 baht a tonne and 9,500 baht for 25-30% moisture.
Market prices of Hom Mali rice in popular provinces such as Buri Ram and Surin were ranged from 15,000 to 15,000 baht a tonne.
The association reported that last year, the average paddy prices of white rice were 9,660 baht a tonne and 14,500 baht for Hom Mali.
