PICHIT SAISAENGCHAN
SURIN : Rice farmers are turning to a chemical-free approach to growing Hom Mali rice with plans to increase the area. This is in keeping with the government's policy to increase organic farming to 200,000 rai across the country.
Surin is already the country's largest producer of Hom Mali, or jasmine rice.
Provincial governor Poolsak Pranutnoraparn said more than 32,000 rai is already being used for organic rice farming, with the harvest due at the end of the year, and it is planned this will be increased to 100,000 rai next year _ about half the government's national target.
He said this will require a 165-million-baht budget.
A policy for chemical-free cropping was introduced in Surin in 1999 and in 2001 the cabinet picked it as a pilot province for organic farming and 2,644 farmers have applied for accreditation for organic farming so far.
Organic Hom Mali fetches 2,000-3,000 baht per tonne more than ordinary jasmine rice. About 120 tonnes have already been marketed in upscale shopping malls in Bangkok.
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