Agriculture
Agricultural commodities, processing and products
Rising anger in Thailand's boom-to-bust northeast
The rural heartland of Thailand’s deposed leader Yingluck Shinawatra and her exiled billionaire brother Thaksin is hurting as a result of the military government’s economic policies, stirring discontent and the threat of protests. The removal of generous agricultural subsidies has left rice farmers in northeast Thailand ...
Vietnam's produce exports expected to top $2b in 2015
Fruit and vegetable exports are expected to reach US$2 billion this year as more and more countries have opened their door to Vietnamese fruits and vegetables. Earnings from fruit and vegetable exports have increased strongly in recent years, from $460 million in 2010 to $1.47 billion ...
Rice mill owner acquitted of Bt11m embezzlement
Thailand’s Appeals Court has acquitted the owner of the Nopporn rice mill for their roles in the alleged use of forged warehouse receipts to embezzle rice worth Bt11 million, but upheld suspended jail terms for nine farmers in a case involving 750 tonnes of rice. Keep reading ...
New terms for year's seventh rice auction
Authorities have pledged to closely supervise the government’s next auction of rice stockpiles to limit any negative effect on domestic prices and protect the reputation of Thai rice. Duangporn Rodphaya, director-general of the Foreign Trade Department, said provincial officials were expected to complete the inspection ...
Mekong Delta farmers warned climate change to affect livelihood
If there are no reasonable solutions to adapt to climate change, Mekong River Delta residents will have to scale down their agricultural production in the near future, or go bankrupt because of lack of materials for production. The warning has been repeatedly given by experts at ...
Heavy rains likely to lower yields in Vietnam's Mekong Delta
The paddy yields in the Mekong River Delta area of Vietnam are likely to decline by about 10-20% due to heavy rains that hit the region last week, according to local sources. Keep reading ...
Thai farmers plea for debt relief if second rice crop again banned
Farmers’ leaders have called for an interest-free debt moratorium of 5-10 years if the government bans the planting of a second rice crop for the third time this year. Thai Farmers Association chairman Wichian Puanglamjiak on 22 September said if the the government asks farmers to not to plant second-crop ...
Vietnamese rubber giant makes deal with Cambodian villagers
A “major breakthrough” has been reached in discussions between Vietnamese rubber giant Hoang Anh Gia Lai and 11 indigenous communities in Ratanakkiri province that have lost land and resources to the company’s plantations. During a three-day meeting with community representatives, NGOs and its own subsidiaries, the ...
Festive period likely to boost rice prices
Rice prices are forecast to increase by as much as 10% late this year and early next year thanks to year-end festive celebrations and lower supply. Chookiat Ophaswongse, an honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said rice prices were likely to rise by 8-10% ...
Vietnam expels Chinese man for illegal mass earthworm hunting
Quang Tri border guards have deported a Chinese man who had asked locals to help him hunt earthworms using an illegal chemical and promised to buy the crawl for a high price. Gan DeQiang, 40, was also fined VND16 million (US$712) for his violations, according to ...
