Commerce permanent secretary Chutima Bunyapraphasara, in her capacity as head of the subcommittee handling state rice sales, said this year’s sales plan would focus on the various grades of rice, from premium-grade rice (60% of the total) to substandard grade or low-quality grains (40%).
“Since the government’s auditing panel completed a nationwide rice inspection and classified state rice stocks into Grades A, B and C, it is now easier for authorities to manage rice sales," said Ms Chutima.
However, she insisted rice sales would be conducted in a way that would prevent any impact on the price of new supplies.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha last month told a meeting of the National Rice Policy Committee that of 17 million tonnes of rice in government stockpiles, 2.35 million tonnes were of standard quality and considered Grade A rice.