In an attempt to allow officials to manage rice in stockpiles more effectively, Thai government is likely to temporarily halt its rice market intervention program for four months starting November.

The high prices offered by the rice Intervention Program had led to a large increases in Thailand's state agency stockpiles which the government is finding tough to manage properly.

The rice intervention program, under which the government buys paddy rice from farmers at state-set prices, has been in place for many years and usually runs from Nov. 1 until the end of February, when the harvesting season for the main crop is underway.