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jay-uk

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    Dual Track System For Ubon Ratchathani

    in Isaan

    Posted

    Just read the following on Bangkok post:

    Dual track system for Ubon Ratchathani

    The Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) plans to spend 85 million baht on a feasibility study on a dual track system in Ubon Ratchathani to the border with Laos at Chong Mek.

    At present the last station in the province does not extend to town, but stops in Warin Chamrap district, about 5 kilometres from the city.

    According to OTP Director-General Chanchai Suwisuttagul, the extension of the dual track would link the station in Warin Chamrap to Chong Mek. The total distance would be about 80 kilometres. The cost of investment is estimated to be 10 billion baht, she said.

    The dual track system would make the logistics more efficient, with the value of trade between Thailand and Laos as high as 5.5 billion baht per year. The dual track system would also benefit travellers and promote tourism between the two countries, Chanchai said.

    "Thai Smile" To Fly Bkk-Ubon In 2012

    in Isaan

    Posted · Edited by jay-uk

    I don't travel to/from Ubon as much as I would like but the chances we have had to fly have been enjoyable experiences mostly and never had any major problems or delays. NokAir seemed a bit of a free for all in terms of getting a seat but Thai airways were very good. Having said that i've always promised myself a train ride just for the hell of it to see what it is like. Each to his own but I certainly don't think that the frequent flyers are fools in any way as it still remains the least painful way up to Ubon. Hired a mini-bus and driver to get family upto Ubon once through the night and that was scary. Had to keep one eye open on the driver in case he fell a sleep at the wheel. Not likely to do that again in a rush!

    Growing Cassava In Thailand

    in Farming in Thailand Forum

    Posted

    Another question I have is would it still be profitable to rent a piece of land for growing Cassava or does the outlay renting kill the project? If yes, then what are renting costs per rai approx: as there may be less exposure financially than buying additional land while learning about farming Cassava in the early stages. There may also be land available where you rent with option to buy as you expand.

    Cheers.

    Jay

    Growing Cassava In Thailand

    in Farming in Thailand Forum

    Posted

    Hi Jay-uk

    I received your PM but will post my reply here to ensure best use of my time.

    Good to hear that your fields are deemed suitable for cassava. From your PM you now know that 4 tonnes per rai should normally be possible within one year (not 18 months). In fact, many farmers I personally know report up to 7 tonnes per rai within one year. 10 tonnes might be doable with irrigation. I have fields that yield only 3.5 tonnes per rai (7 over “two years”) and fields that yield over 6 tonnes per rai within one year (12 over “two years”). 4 tonne is a good assumption. One year cassava is normally harvested between 8 to 11 months after planting.

    I normally favour two-year cassava, whereby the tubers are harvested after 18 months (sometimes up to 22 months). I find that the yield is double (or near enough) that of the one-year tubers but the profit is higher since the cultivation costs are half that of two seasons of one-year crops. I also prefer two-year cycles (where half my crops are in their first year and the other half are in their second year) because

    • I always have a good constant supply of fresh trees available for planting …and for selling at a premium in the months when trees are scarce

    • My trees are mature during the dry season when mealybugs attack and therefore more resilient

    • I can rotate with mungbeans without losing a season of cassava

    Yes, current selling price of tubers is around 3,500 baht per tonne. Note that whilst I believe that cassava will continue to fetch more than 2,500 baht per tonne, it has only ever exceeded 2,500 baht this season.

    Your profit figures would be near-enough if you were renting land and tractor work but much better if you have your own land and tractor. 8 tonnes per rai per two years (with no tractor or land rental) @3,500 baht results in a net profit to me of 23,000 baht (annualized to 11,500 baht) so I have a profit margin of 82% (my actual unit costs, your sales price).

    I also have additional profit from mungbeans (between harvest and replanting of cassava) and from tree-stem sales.

    Good luck, you’ve chosen a great crop.

    Rgds

    Khonwan

    PS. Sorry for the delay: phone/internet connection difficulties.

    Hi Khonwan

    Thank you and others for your replies which I find most helpful. Learning about this may take time but the feedback looks very promising so far. All the best.

    Jay

    Isaan Land Prices

    in Isaan

    Posted

    Mark Twain Quote:.......... “Buy land, they're not making it anymore”.

    In the long term land in the North East can be a good investment and there is certainly going to be a food shortage in years to come. Ever increasing fuel prices and changing weather conditions will continue to drive farming costs and crops prices upwards. More people to feed in the world and changing diets within Asia are also a factor making farm land more attractive as an investment. If I had more money to invest right now then i would certainly keep buying small pieces of land wherever possible in that region. The land we own has increased considerably over the last 10 years. Thais from the south are moving more to the north east as the unrest affects business and talk is that Bangkok will be flooding more in years to come so business people are considering other cities to work out of further north. Just my opinion but much of the aforementioned cannot change. Thais could owe more money in future if they make the same mistakes as us in the western world by over inflating property prices but land in Thailand compared to other parts of the world is still relatively cheap and still has room to grow further.

    Growing Cassava In Thailand

    in Farming in Thailand Forum

    Posted

    The growing of Cassava makes interesting reading on this forum. I'm starting to think more about suggesting my wife's family increase their margins by planting Cassava rather than rice each year. After reading the past posts am I close in my assumptions that the yields, SP/meton and margins are as follows after all costs are taken off?:

    Yield: Up to 4 metric tonne per Rai.

    Growing period: 18 months.

    Selling Price: 3,500 per Meton (Approx:)

    Turn Over Per Rai: 14,000 Baht (over 18 months)

    Profit Margin: 60% Approx: (Based on previous posters spreadsheet)

    Net Profit Per Rai: 8,400 Baht (over 18 Months)

    Net profit Per Rai: 5,599 Baht (Annually)

    30 Rai: 167,970 Baht Per Year Profit

    60 Rai: 335,940 Baht Per Year Profit

    100 Rai 559,900 Baht Per Year Profit ......etc, etc,,

    If accurate then it looks a better option than keep growing rice each year.

    Mushroom Farming

    in Farming in Thailand Forum

    Posted

    Hello All

    I'm trying to learn more about mushroom farming in Thailand and if anyone has any experience of this then their input would be appreciated. My wife and I would like to do this as part of our retirement plans later in life and wanted to know a rough guide on how many Kgs/m2 can be grown. The prices per Kg sold to market ex-farm and operational/setup costs etc.. Any help on water demand and utility costs also would be helpful from anyone doing this now.

    Thanks for your help.

    Need Electrician In Ubon

    in Isaan

    Posted

    Hi Chris

    We have tried using local village electricians on several occasions in Ubon and we must have been unlucky as the workmanship was terrible. Eventually we managed to use the government electric company contractors who happened to be doing some work in the area bringing power into the village. They will sometimes do private work out of hours on nights/weekends and these guys know what they are doing rather than some local "lecky" turning up on his push bike and wetting his fingers when touching wires to see if they are still live! Believe me that is true in Ubon I've seen it. Anyway I had the whole house rewired outside and the new guys were very professional. In the end they cost a little bit more but the work is noticeably better than the guy on his bike. Over last 3 years no problems with the new electrics at the house. Everything seems to be wired up fine and still working. However, I don't have a phone number at hand for you but if you can visit the electric company in Warin they will no doubt sort you out with one of their contractor guys.

    Jay

    • Like 1

    Police Nab Suspect In Arson Of Ubon Ratchathani Provincial Hall

    in Isaan

    Posted

    http://www.mcot.net/cfcustom/cache_page/59...a34183d26476339

    Police nab suspect in arson of Ubon Ratchathani provincial hall

    วันอังคาร ที่ 25 พ.ค. 2553

    Photo

    UBON RATCHATHANI, May 25 (TNA) – A Red Shirt supporter charged with the May 19 arson of Ubon Ratchathani provincial hall has been detained in the northeastern province of Surin, the regional police chief said on Tuesday.

    Pattama Moonnil, 23, who allegedly torched Ubon Ratchathani provincial hall, was arrested at an apartment in the provincial seat of Surin, according to Pol Lt-Gen Dechawat Ramsompob of the Region 3 Police.

    Led by local Red Shirt leader Nobpa Jankuang, the suspect and other angry protesters stormed the provincial hall, destroying official assets, then set fire to the hall, Ms Pattama said.

    Ms Pattama confessed to the police that she felt guilty for what she had done, adding that arson is against the law and she did intend to report to the police.

    Following the May 19 arson, a provincial court issued arrest warrants for 91 Red Shirt protesters allegedly involved in the violence at the provincial office.

    The 91 suspects included 57 persons charged with arson and damaging the provincial hall and 34 persons accused of storming and damaging the provincial hall.

    Currently 21 Red Shirt protesters have been detained in Ubon Ratchathai.

    Meanwhile, six leaders of Red-active Ubon Ratchathani, including Prayuth Moonsarn, Suthirat Sang-ngam, Pitipat Thanatthaweesiri, Nobpa Jankuang, Sompong Thani and Chatchawan Srijanda, remain at large. (TNA)

    What Cable Or Satellite Tv Options Are There In Ubon?

    in Isaan

    Posted

    500 baht to get hooked up then 300 baht per month after that (Thats if they remember to come around and collect the money!)

    That sounds like a good deal to me memock. I would not mind that kind of deal.

    There is also UBC satelite as I've seen a few red dishes around our neighbours houses but from memory this is much more expensive than cable. I looked into this but it was up to 2,000 baht monthly on the top Platinum package. For short holidays I would find that expensive but some people may justify the cost if living full time in LOS and bored of the local Thai soaps.

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