AYUTTHAYA, Thailand : Rice farmers in Thailand are reaping the benefits of higher prices for their crops amid growing demand.

But it has also spawned a new phenomenon.

Rice-rich Thailand is the world's largest exporter of Asia's staple grain.

It may not have much to worry about, with adequate domestic stockpiles, unlike other countries where demand outstrips supply.

But some rice growers do, as the price of Thai rice has more than doubled since January, from just below US$400 per tonne to US$930 this week.

The dark side of this largely positive news is that rice rustling - the theft of plants and seeds - has become a problem.

In some areas, harvesting machines are banned from parking near paddies at night, to prevent thieves from harvesting other people's crops, while farm workers try to organise patrols to guard their sprawling fields.

This new crime affects more than just the bottom line.

Thai farmers believe deeply in a guardian goddess of rice called Phra Mae Po Sop, and during every step of rice production, ritual offerings are made to the goddess for her protection.

That is why the theft of the rice crop itself goes far beyond an economic loss. It is an emotional one.

61-year-old Daoruang Kijsiri, a rice farmer for over 30 years, recently woke up on planting day to find that a 600kg batch of sprouted rice seeds worth around US$250, was missing.

He said, "When I found out that it disappeared, I broke down and cried. I felt deeply sad. My wife and my son embraced me, comforting me by saying it was going to be all right and that we could get new seeds. But I can't really put a price on my sorrow. My whole life has been completely dedicated to Phra Mae Po Sop for a long time."

Officials are doing their best to tackle the problem.

They hope that new government measures will ease the situation.

Mr Wiroj Buapuan, Chief Officer, Bang Sai District, Ayutthaya, said, "I've held meetings with the sub-district chiefs and the village chiefs to set up patrol units to watch for rice thieves...Secondly, I have made the public aware that they can no longer soak rice in water to germinate it for planting anymore, due to recent thefts."

Meanwhile, to men of the soil like Mr Daoruang and other farmers, it is the suspicion that the theft is being done by locals that brings them the greatest sorrow.

Only those in the vicinity would have intimate knowledge of whose fields are ripe for the taking. - CNA/ms