January 19, 2009

Thailand's corn farmers on Thursday (Jan 15) blocked a main road in Nakhon Ratchasima province to protest against delayed payment for their produce under the corn mortgage scheme, according to the Bangkok Post.

About 200 farmers from seven districts blocked Mitraphap road in front of the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives' Sung Noen branch to demand a review of alleged irregularities in the corn mortgage scheme.

More than 3,000 tonnes of corn had been mortgaged to Thai Narong rice mill, which was within the scheme, in December 9-16 last year but were left unpaid, according to the farmers.

The farmers said when they showed their depository receipts to the bank for reimbursement, they were told the crops were pledged after the scheme's deadline.