Thailand seeks cooperation with India, Vietnam to support falling rice prices

BANGKOK, March 6 (Reuters) - Thailand is seeking cooperation with India and Vietnam to find ways to deal with falling rice prices, the Thai trade minister said on Thursday, amid protests by local farmers calling for more government support. Thailand is in talks with both countries to reduce competition in the hope of creating a balance in rice prices on the global market and helping farmers earn a stable income, Pichai Naripthaphan told parliament. “We have discussed this, but we are waiting for another meeting to see what we can do about it,” he said of the talks with India and Vietnam. Rice prices in Thailand fell 30 percent year-on-year to an average of about 8,600 baht ($255) per tonne last month, according to the trade ministry. Farmers are urging the government to help them sell rice at higher prices. Thailand, the world’s second-largest rice exporter, is likely to be hit hard by India’s ...