Thailand International Political Economy

The Thailand government plans to implement a rice purchase scheme to help local Thai rice farmers according to Forbes.

The move comes as Thai farmers threaten to protest over the fact that while Rice prices have gained significantly over the past few months the millers and exporters have not passed along those gains to producers.

The scheme by the Thailand government and proposed by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej suggests that the Thai government bank would purchase rice $428 per ton direct from Thai rice farmers.

Politically, the move is timely as protest in Bangkok continued this week over the Thailand governments attempt to alter the Thai constitution in a favor of former ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.