Thai rice farmers threaten protest if intervention price cut
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BANGKOK (REUTERS) - Thai farmers vowed on Monday to stage a major protest after the government signalled it was weighing a plan to cut rice intervention prices by a tenth, in another sign that the state could be running short of funds for the scheme.
Thailand's generous rice subsidy scheme has won the support of millions of rural voters, but has generated huge grain stockpiles, sparked graft allegations and unnerved markets.
"We have sent our letter to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra that we don't agree to cut the intervention price,"said Vichien Phuanglamjiak, vice-president of the Thai Rice Farmers Association, which represents 700 to 800 farmers.
"And if we don't get an appropriate response, we will stage a protest and it would be a big one."
