Rice Department will upgrade machinery to boost seed production
The Rice Department will invest more than 1.2 billion baht to increase the production of rice seeds so it can meet demand for 150.000 tonnes per year, its director-general, Natthakit Khongthip, said on Thursday.
The department has developed a plan to increase production of the seeds from the current 95,000 tonnes to 150,000 tonnes a year, Natthakit said.
The main hurdles to increased production are lack of funds and infrastructure, he said, explaining that rice research centres are inefficient because their machinery and tools are broken or are so old that they are no longer compatible with new technology.
The department will increase manufacturing capacity at 16 rice research centres nationwide, Natthakit said.
It will invest 1.256 billion baht for 31 machines to increase the production of breeding and foundation seeds, which will ensure it meets demand for seeds and also improve food security, Natthakit said.
