To describe it as opportunistic doesn't do justice to the Thai Prime Minister's proposal: a rice cartel as food riots erupt over West Africa and the Philippines, another Asean nation, goes begging for supplies.

Still, it is nothing new. Eight years ago a similar idea was floated and came to nothing.

Plans for cartels among commodity food producers are made and abandoned with regularity.

Price strength gives confidence; Opec is acquiring new members (Angola and Ecuador) as oil hits new record prices while gas-exporting nations, including Algeria, Iran, Qatar and Russia are now mulling over the notion of an Ogec.

The only producer cartel that has ever functioned effectively as a price-setter is Opec. Its success can be attributed to cultural and political affinity among its core members, the Gulf Arab states.

Just as important is the ability of one member, Saudi Arabia, to underpin the organisation as a swing producer, turning on and off the tap at will.

It is more difficult for food commodity producers, which are nearly always price-takers.

In the 1970s, efforts were made to bring together nations that exported cash crops, such as coffee and cocoa.

The Association of Coffee Producing Countries disbanded in 2001 having failed to stem a lengthy price decline.

It could not control the behaviour of thousands of peasant farmers and a determined and successful effort by Vietnam to break into the market as a leading low-cost coffee producer.

What the farmers need more than cartels is investment, higher-yielding rice and better access to markets but that requires more effort than a meeting in a smoke-filled room.

Times Recommends

• C&G axed - 1,660 jobs to be lost
• UK house prices rise 1.1% as buyers return
• Mixed reaction to US banks repaying bailouts