Government House, "Phumtham" revealed that he is preparing to invite companies to bid for rice to negotiate prices, confident that he will get a price better than 3 baht/kg. He insisted that he did not cancel the 1,000 baht per rai farmer assistance project, which may have been miscommunicated with farmers. He emphasized that if necessary, he could reconsider.Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, Mr. Phumtham Vejjayachai, talked about the progress of the auction of 10-year-old state rice stocks of 15,000 tons, in which 3 companies were disqualified from bidding. He said that this week, the companies that bid correctly will be invited to negotiate the price, and he thinks that it should be finished within this week. He is confident that the price of rice from the auction will definitely be better than 3 baht per kilogram.Mr. Phumtham Wechayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, said about Mr. Kriang Kalptinan, Deputy Minister of Interior, that he felt uncomfortable because the go vernment brought the 'Half-Half' fertilizer project to replace the '1,000-baht-per-rai' farmer assistance project because he was concerned that it would affect the Pheu Thai Party's support base. He said that the thinking, writing, or talking about this matter were not true. The discomfort may have occurred from the beginning, when they may not have understood that the 1,000-baht payment was cut and the fertilizer issue was replaced because farmers wanted cash. However, after it was cleared up, things should have improved and we must sympathize with the local MPs who talked to the farmers. When farmers did not receive complete information, they felt uncomfortable, which made the MPs uncomfortable as well.Mr. Phumtham explained that the issue of half-price fertilizer and the compensation of 1,000 baht per rai for harvesting costs are different issues because the issue of half-price fertilizer helps reduce production costs, allowing people to buy fertilizer at half price, and will help produce more efficient products.Mr. Phumtham explained that for the 1,000 baht per rai farmer project, this measure has not been implemented all the time, but has been implemented at various times. If there is a problem with poor crop prices, this measure will be used, which is just one mechanism used in the past 2-3 years. During the period when rice prices dropped to 7,000 baht per rai, farmers cannot be left in trouble. When rice prices rise, they will have to reconsider whether farmers still have problems or not, and compensation can be provided at any time.'This matter has nothing to do with whether to stop. I want my fellow farmers to be at ease. If there is a problem one day, we will consider it. It may be more or less than before. It depends on the overall situation of the problem. But all in all, I want my fellow farmers to be safe and live without any impact,' said Mr. Phumtham.Mr. Phumtham confirmed that 52 fertilizer companies were called and 15-16 fertilizer formulas were proposed. As for farmers, they can use an y formula. It is a matter for farmers. No one has a monopoly.Source: Thai News Agency