Vegetable prices rise ahead of Vegetarian Festival
Vegetable prices have risen nationwide across Thailand
prior to the annual Vegetarian Festival.
The festival, which started October 14, is a boon to market farmers and
traders, forcing the prices of fresh vegetables in many areas to increase.
According
to the Commerce Ministry, vegetable prices rose significantly higher than
the same period last year.
Chinese kale’s wholesale price rose to 70 baht from 15 baht per kilogram,
cabbage to 160 baht from 18 baht/kg, and morning glory to 30 baht from 22
baht/kg.
In the northern province of Chiang Mai, farmers sold less produce to fresh
markets in many districts because they are waiting for the doubling of
prices during the vegetarian festival.
In the northeastern province of Maha Sarakham, vegetable prices rose higher
than last year as many areas were hit by flood, destroying produce.
Meanwhile, the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) Economic and
Business Forecasting Center projected about Bt38 billion will circulate
during the festival and sees a record growth of 7.6 percent. Each person’s
spending is about 8,154 baht on average.
Center director Thanawat Polwichai said a survey on festival spending found
the number of people joining the vegetarian specialty cuisine festival will
rise 28 percent, mostly to make merit, Dr Thanawat said.
Most poll respondents conceded that they must spend more this time around as
fruit and vegetable prices are rising.
This year’s festival is expected to be most lively with record high
spending. (MCOT)
|
|
Government will continue with rice pledging scheme
The
government will go ahead with the rice pledging scheme and would speed up
the release of rice from stockpiles, according to Commerce Minister Boonsong
Teriyapirom.
Boonsong stood in for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on the premier’s
weekly televised program “Yingluck Government Meets the People.”
Also appearing on the program were the president of Thailand Trade
representative Olarn Chaipravat, Fiscal Policy Research Institute Foundation
Director Kanit Sangsubhan, Permanent Secretary for Commerce Vatchari
Vimooktayon, and Department of Foreign Trade Director General Pranee
Siriphand.
The premier reportedly assigned the officials involved to join the program
to clarify the benefits of the government’s rice pledging scheme to the
public.
Boonsong said the rice pledging scheme could help improve farmers’ quality
of life.
He also affirmed that the government would speed up the release of rice in
its stockpiles in order to have more space for the next round of rice
pledging scheme.
The government has continuously released rice from its stockpiles via
auctions, and government to government deals, he said, adding that relations
between the government and rice exporters remained strong.
Yingluck earlier this week reassured the public that the government’s rice
pledging scheme would not cause further losses but would benefit farmers.
The premier emphasized that her government did sell rice through
government-to-government deals to other countries including some ASEAN
countries. Initially, more than 8 million tons of rice have been delivered.
The details, however, could not be disclosed. (MCOT)
|
|
New border checkpoint on Thai-Lao border to prevent rice smuggling
A new border checkpoint is now in place on the Thai-Lao PDR Mekong River
border.
The border checkpoint was set up by Thai police at Ban Kok Suwan in this
northeastern province across the river from the Lao province of Savannakhet
to prevent rice smuggling from the neighboring country to sell - illegally -
under Thailand’s rice pledging scheme.
Mukdahan Internal Trade Department Office chief Somboon Chumponsatien said
checkpoints were set up also at other districts.
He added, meanwhile, the province could not proceed with implementing the
rice pledging scheme, for the subcommittee monitoring rice pledging
processes is verifying the qualifications of rice mills applying to
participate.
However, Somboon said local farmers have not yet been affected, as they have
not begun their harvest.
In nearby Kalasin province, Internal Trade Department Office provincial
chief Torawat Saengtong and representatives of the provincial committee
monitoring rice have examined more than 20 mills joining the program.
Torawat said the pledging process cannot start, as the mills have not
installed closed-circuit television cameras as a hindrance to corruption.
The pledging is expected to begin by the end of October in Kalasin. (MCOT)
|
|
Bangkok Bank opens Soi Buakaow branch
Bank President Pravit
Kasemwarangkun addresses a gathering of honored guests at the grand opening
of the new Bangkok Bank Soi Buakaow branch.
Vittaya Yoondorn
Bangkok Bank opened its 18th branch in Pattaya on Soi Buakaow.
Bank President Pravit Kasemwarangkun cut the ribbon on the branch located at
502/43 Moo. 10 Soi Buakaow, Oct. 12, with Pattaya Deputy Mayor Ronakit
Ekasingh and employees looking on.
Pravit said Bangkok Bank, which celebrates its 68th anniversary in December,
operates 1,030 branches nationwide, with 665 of those located outside the
capital.
The Soi Buakaow location offers full service to personal and business
accounts and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday. Its
currency-exchange booth will operate 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
|