Secretary-general Anant Poosithikul said yesterday the project would be undertaken on 33,000 rai of royally bestowed land in five provinces - Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Chachoengsao, Nakhon Pathom and Nakhon Nayok.

The office will provide high-quality rice seeds to 3,000 farmers to grow in the targeted areas. The goal is at least 1,000 tonnes of seeds next year.

The project will encourage farmers to grow rice high in demand such as Pathumthani Rice I, which ranks second in quality after jasmine rice. Farmers will receive rice-planting technology from the department. - The Nation.

US sets shrimp standards

Thai shrimp will face more restrictions accessing the US market after leading department store Wal-Mart and Daren Restaurant implemented the Aquaculture Certification Council (ACC) standard for imported shrimp and shrimp products.

Somchai Channarongku, deputy director of the National Bureau of Agricultural and Commodity and Food Standards, said yesterday the standard would focus on both shrimp hatcheries and farms.

The standard will ensure food safety and traceability as well as social responsibility and environmental protection. - The Nation.

Filipino-Thai glass talks

The Philippines will consider removing its protective measures imposed on Thai-made glass, which causes the product to be subjected to a safeguard duty.

The ABS-CBN news agency recently reported that Thailand and the Philippines agreed to work together in assessing the measures imposed on Thai-made glass, a development that could possibly result in the removal of safeguards.

"Both countries have agreed to work together in determining whether the safeguards should be eliminated or not. This is part of Thailand's request for us to remove the protective measure on their glass products," Trade Secretary Peter Favila was quoted as saying.

Favila said Thai trade officials were not pursuing any compensation but have hinted that the assessment might result in that. "This [compensation] could be an outcome, but we will wait for the full review."