Caretaker PM Yingluck promises rice payments to farmers next week

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BANGKOK, Feb 14 – Farmers will gradually receive their overdue payments from the rice pledging scheme next week, according to caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

She said financial institutions have agreed to grant loans to the government, adding that the Finance Ministry would explain details for the borrowing.

Caretaker Deputy Commerce Minister Yanyong Phuangrach said the Foreign Trade Department would negotiate with 18 rice traders who joined Wednesday’s tender for 460,000 tonnes of rice.

After conclusions on the price with the bid winners, the caretaker commerce minister will sign the approval to sell the rice, he said.

He said the traders entitled to buy the rice and the total amount of money the government would earn from the auction would be disclosed next week.