Poor people, who were quick to greet the government's helpful gesture, are disappointed, but take it in their stride

In the face of rising rice prices, poorer people have welcomed the government's scheme of selling "blue-flag" rice at Bt120 for a five-kilogram bag.

However, many consumers were disappointed when they found the quality was substandard. Despite the low price, the rice was still not good enough, said consumers who queued at the Commerce Ministry in Nonthaburi yesterday.

The government yesterday provided 73,000 rice bags in Bangkok and 27,000 in nine provinces. People formed long queues in the hope of getting the cheap rice for their families.

Kamolrat Taothong, 45, a housewife, said she was very disappointed with the quality.

"Rice is supposed to be good quality, but this stock is quite old and has turned yellow. The government should pack higher quality rice and sell at a higher price," she said.

Another woman was also disappointed but found it acceptable as it helped reduce the cost of daily living.

"I am grateful the government has offered us much-needed help," said 58-year-old Sumalee Burana, who was among Chiang Mai residents queuing to buy rice.

A five-kilo bag usually sells for between Bt160 and Bt170 at grocery shops and department stores. Fragrant rice is even more expensive.

"I hope the government will make the cheap rice available at general shops too," Sumalee said.  In Songkhla, 500 bags allotted for sale in Muang district sold out within an hour.

"It went quickly even though each customer could only buy two bags," Songkhla internal trade office's director Ratree Dabsoke said. People in Muang district will be allowed to buy 500 more bags today.

"I got here before 8am and the rice finally arrived at nearly 11am," Lamai Jaikaew said, "I hope the government will sell cheap rice to us every month so that poor people can survive." The transport of the rice to the South was delayed because of heavy downpours.

In Surat Thani, the rice arrived so late that the local authorities decided to sell the discounted rice today instead.

"I was a bit disappointed when officials decided not to sell the cheap rice right away," Napa sae Tan, 40, said.

Meanwhile, negotiations between rice exporters and the Malaysian government have not yet been finalised as Malaysia is bargaining for a lower price.

Chookiat Ophaswongse, president of the Rice Exporters Association, said the selling price to Malaysia at 15 per cent of the regular price should be US$1,000 (Bt32,128) per tonne.

XTRA

Fighting Inflation

>> The Commerce Ministry put its "blue-flag" rice bags on sale

yesterday at Bt120 for a 5kg bag.

>> The first 100,000 bags were distributed to 10 provinces around the country, including Bangkok.

>> The ministry is set to sell 200,000 more bags on May 20.

>> Each bag contains five kilos, so the government has to prepare up to 1,500 tonnes to offer cheap rice to consumers in May alone.