Agency challenged to conduct surprise checks on warehouses

Democrat Party's Pitsanulok MP Dr Warong Dejwikrom Thursday challenged the Public Warehouse Organisation (PW) to show up at a warehouse unannounced and prove that the rice stored there as part of the government's rice-pledging scheme has not spoiled.

Warong was speaking before the House Committee on Independent Agencies as part of its scrutiny into allegations that the organisation failed to store rice properly, causing it to rot.

PW's deputy director denied the allegation, saying all the rice is stored properly in sacks and sprayed with insecticide regularly until it is distributed to buyers. However, the official said, that with 11-12 per cent humidity rice can only be stored for a year and a half at the most and its quality will deteriorate by 10 per cent every year.

The Nation