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On Wednesday, His Majesty the King applauded Thai scientists and those involved in the patenting of genes that can control the aroma of Thai jasmine rice. His Majesty said the patent would ensure that Thais take pride in eating Thai rice. They won't have to eat rice that has a foreign patent.

The news of the gene patenting was welcome indeed. The patent, officially called Transgenic rice plants with reduced expression of Os2AP and elevated levels of 2-acetyl-1-pyroline, will help protect the discovery and ensure that jasmine rice or khao hom mali as we know it, will remain being the national pride and a foreign exchange earner.

Most people take local wisdom in the agricultural sector for granted because it has been around for decades, even centuries. Many have grown up with this knowledge without realising its value. Instead, they have been getting far too excited with the developments in the West, which cannot be entirely applied to the structure of the Thai economy. The social impact from Thailand's 1997 financial crisis was mitigated because many went back to their families and farms, which provided them a safety net in the absence of a welfare system.

Still, some Thai farmers did not think they should seek protection for traditional wisdom and innovations, and only realised what they had lost when they discovered that foreigners had patented this knowledge and called it their own.

His Majesty has been gracious in reminding Thais of the value of jasmine rice. Through thousands of agricultural projects nationwide, His Majesty the King has shown Thai farmers that they too can build on their unique strengths.

Thai jasmine rice was the nation's greatest discovery after it was successfully developed in the late 1950s. Home-grown long-grain rice with the aroma of fresh pandan leaf is not only popular in Thailand, but has become an icon around the world. Thai jasmine rice is a perfect companion to our cuisine and world-famous dishes such as tom yum kung or green curry. The texture of the rice is just right - not too starchy not too hard - and there's nothing more refreshing than its aroma, which keeps us wanting for more.

The story of Thai jasmine rice is indeed fascinating. The most popular place for growing jasmine rice is Toong Kula Ronghai, a massive 2-million rai covering five provinces in the Northeast. This species does not require a lot of water, making the drought-ridden, mostly unused Toong Kula Ronghai perfect for growing the grain. Toong Kula Ronghai means the field where the Kula people cry. Legend has it that Kula immigrants travelled to the area and started crying because they only found dry land. Nowadays, though, this once-deserted area has turned into a field of gold thanks to jasmine rice.

It is good news that the government has managed to get jasmine rice patented so that other countries too can realise the value of this grain, which has been the staple of millions of people for decades. It could also, maybe, inspire India and Pakistan to put aside their differences and jointly co-own the term "basmati" for their aromatic rice.

Rice farming and growing techniques are a priceless heritage that Thais should protect for our future generations, so they too realise that this grain is synonymous with our country's traditions and culture.

Sadly, some farmers are still living below the poverty line. Rice plantation can be promoted if people believe that growing this grain would help them live their lives in a sustainable manner. Unfortunately, most of the young people have chosen the easy path of becoming factory workers, while their parents and grandparents barely survive on farming.

The answer to this could be a comprehensive rice development scheme. While patenting jasmine rice reflects progress in innovation, a lot needs to be done to improve production. The government should help farmers develop the quality of rice and improve per-rai yield. Farmers should also receive a fair share from the rice trade, instead of letting millers and exporters reap the benefits alone.

Coincidentally, while we are celebrating the patenting, there have been reports of the government thinking of allowing foreign investors to farm in Thailand. In response to the news, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said foreigners were unlikely to participate in actual rice farming but they might be able to take part in the industrial side of things such as processing.

Apparently, these shrewd investors from oil-rich countries realise the value of rice, which to some Thais just looks like foreign exchange. Actually, cooperation with foreign investors in this sector should be based on what we need, if our farmers would benefit or if they would be lured into selling their land to big-time investors. Should that happen, there won't be many Thai farmers left with plots of their own.

The successful patenting of Thai jasmine rice, which is now protected in 10 countries including the US and Japan, should remind one and all about protecting our national heritage.