NONTHABURI, Aug 26 (TNA) – Commerce Minister ordered
sticky rice traders nationwide to report their inventories by tomorrow to
prevent hoarding or profiteering as the glutinous rice price has skyrocketed 56
per cent year-one-year due to drought and supply shortage.
Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister, Jurin
Laksanavisit said that he instructed the Internal Trade Department to issue
the notice for all rice traders including millers and exporters to report their
rick stocks to the authorities.
Violators are subject to five years in jail and /or a maximum fine
of 5,000 baht.
Those, who are engaged in hoarding and profiteering face seven
years in jail and/or a maximum fine of 140,000 baht.
The ministry is considering a short-term measure to offer packaged
sticky rice at a lower price.
Sticky rice costs 45-50 baht per kilo currently.
The sticky rice price has risen to 15,179 baht per
tonne in August, 2019 from 9,697 baht in the same period last year, up 56.53
per cent. (TNA)
