AGRICULTURE
Hom Mali faces threats
PHUSADEE ARUNMAS

Thai Hom Mali rice exporters complain that the fragrant grain is being challenged in China by the growing popularity of Pathum Thani rice, a cheaper strain of fragrant jasmine rice, as well as China's new fragrant rice breed.

Chookiat Ophaswongse, the president of Thai Rice Exporters Association, warned that the volume of Thai Hom Mali rice shipments to China could keep falling if there was no attempt to address the issue.

Thai Hom Mali rice costs $1,000 baht a tonne or more, compared with $700-800 for Pathum Thani. China's new aromatic breed of rice costs $400-500 per tonne.

''The government should do something to promote the brand and beef up marketing of Thai Hom Mali rice among Chinese and worldwide consumers,'' said Mr Chookiat.

Pathum Thani rice also has a competitive edge since it can be cultivated year-round in many provinces and the growers use better technology. Hom Mali only has one crop a year and is suited for plantations in the Northeast where irrigation is insufficient to accommodate more crops.

According to Mr Chookiat, importers in China are also blending Pathum Thani rice with domestic aromatic grains. Thailand shipped 347,848 tonnes of Pathum Thani rice last year, 201,870 of which went to China.

Thai Hom Mali rice exports amounted to 1.86 million tonnes in 2007, up 10.3% from a year earlier, with Hom Mali broken grain increasing 17.7% to 1.03 million tonnes.

China bought about 200,000 tonnes of Hom Mali rice from Thailand last year.

Dr Nipon Poapongsakorn, dean of economics at Thammasat University, urged the Commerce Ministry to differentiate the market position of Thai Hom Mali and Pathum Thani rice.

''The Hom Mali market position should be promoted as a premium product and have geographical indication (GI) protection to ensure that its prices must be higher than for any other aromatic grains,'' he said.

By Bangkok Post On 13 Aug 2008

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