Myanmar farmers winnow paddy traditionally to remove sand and other impurities before transport as they harvest rice in a rice field in Nay Pyi Taw on Saturday. (AP photo)The Myanmar government has formed special working groups to organise state purchases of paddy amid a slump in market demand. Vice President Henry Van Thio held a coordination meeting at the President’s Office on Wednesday to discuss plans to purchase paddy directly from farmers, the Myanmar Times reported on Friday. The two groups will decide in which regions paddy purchases are required and organise the purchases after submitting the region list to the leading committee, which is formed by the agriculture and commerce ministries, he added. Agriculture associations have recommended using the National Rice Reserve Supervisory Committee to support rice prices in the past.

Source: Bangkok Post November 11, 2016 08:02 UTC