Thai rice farmers protests: Uttaradit farmers seal off highway for second day

UTTARADIT, 21 January 2014 (NNT) – Rice growers continue to block a major highway in Uttaradit for the second day in a bid to pressure the government to pay money owed to them under the rice pledging scheme.

Over 1,000 farmers camped out on the highway and parked their trucks to block the highway number 11 between Uttaradit and Phitsanulok. The move came after the government has failed to advance payments to farmers for five consecutive months.

The protest group said the total amount of money owed to them is estimated at 3.4 billion baht. The group has demanded to meet with Finance Minister Kittaratt Na-Ranong over the issue.

Read more: NNTt