Nearly 3,000 farmers blocked the Chiang Rai-Phayao Road for the third consecutive day to demand the government buy their rice at better prices.

After they finally got a promise from the Internal Trade Department's to raise the price to Bt8,000 per tonne for sticky rice and Bt12,000 a tonne for round-shaped rice the farmers dispersed.

Unhappy with the middle men paying Bt6,500 per tonne for sticky rice and Bt9,000 per tonne for round-shaped rice, before vendors sold them at even higher prices, the farmers divided into two groups - one blocked the Mar Korn intersection in Muang Chiang Rai Municipality while the other blocked another intersection in Phann district. They later moved to camp outside the city halls of both districts.

Internal Trade Depart-ment chief Yanyong Puang-rat said he would table the farmers' demand with the National Rice Policy Committee.