Thailand Eyes Banana Farming to Support Struggling Rice Farmers

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

 

In light of tumbling rice prices, the Thai government plans to encourage rice farmers to diversify their crops by cultivating bananas. Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan announced this initiative on Thursday, suggesting that bananas could provide a lucrative alternative due to their high yield and demand in international markets such as Japan.

 

Currently, Thailand produces around 8,000 tonnes of bananas annually, with the potential to export approximately 2,000 tonnes. The aim is to tap into Japan's burgeoning demand for bananas, estimated at one million tonnes a year, creating a promising opportunity for Thai farmers to supplement their income.

 

The proposal, however, faced scepticism in parliament. People's Party MP Narongdech Ularnkul questioned the government's commitment to rescuing the plunging rice prices, urging Minister Pichai to consult with the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry before advising farmers to make the switch to bananas.

 

Amidst these discussions, Narongdech voiced concerns about the leadership within the National Rice Policy and Management Committee, questioning if the current government's leadership fully appreciates the farmers’ plight, especially since the post traditionally held by the prime minister is now occupied by Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira.

To aid rice farmers, Pichai revealed plans to offload rice stockpiles through agreements with African countries and China. Discussions with India and Vietnam are also on the horizon to form strategies for stabilising rice prices.

 

Additionally, a proposal to support rice prices by offering farmers an extra 1,000 baht per tonne for off-season rice awaits Cabinet approval. Coupled with current market rates, farmers could potentially receive around 9,500 baht per tonne.

 

As the government explores diversification to bolster incomes, the debate underscores the broader challenge of balancing immediate market intervention with long-term agricultural sustainability. Ultimately, the success of this initiative may hinge on effective collaboration across governmental agencies and addressing the farmers' real-time concerns, reportedn Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2025-03-07

 

 

[Tropicalevo]

Come on Thailand.

Just admit that you do not gig a fig about the poor farmers.

This is just a PR exercise to try and get your names in the papers.

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The proposal, however, faced scepticism in parliament. People's Party MP Narongdech Ularnkul questioned the government's commitment to rescuing the plunging rice prices, urging Minister Pichai to consult with the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry before advising farmers to make the switch to bananas.

Strange, I hadn't noticed a price drop at the supermarket?

[Andycoops]

They have dragged their feet for far to long on any credible policy that would help rice farmers, also unlike other countries the meagre amount of money spent on research and developing better varieties that are more sustainable and provide better yields hasn't been done.

[Hktom]

What bull<deleted> reporting. 

 

'Thailand produces 8000 tonnes of bananas annually'.

 

That number is wrong, way way too low. A back of the envelope calculation suggest that makes 0.75 bananas per person in thailand. 

[Burma Bill]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

plans to encourage rice farmers to diversify their crops by cultivating bananas.

 

If that is what is intended, it is no skin off my back!

[Formaleins]

36 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Strange, I hadn't noticed a price drop at the supermarket?

The only price drop is what these middlemen are giving the farmers!

[PETERTHEEATER]

45 minutes ago, Hktom said:

What bull<deleted> reporting. 

 

'Thailand produces 8000 tonnes of bananas annually'.

 

That number is wrong, way way too low. A back of the envelope calculation suggest that makes 0.75 bananas per person in thailand. 

This does not include figures of the numbers of ladies 'gnawing the 'nana' for a living.

[Purdey]

It is a good idea to teach rice farmers about alternative crops. They don't make much profit from rice; it is the Chinese Thai rice millers. When the price of rice drops, the millers' profit goes up.

I met a young guy with a mango orchard many years ago and asked how much he could make in a year. He said about one million Baht. 

[NoMoonLogistics]

Just like all those farmers up in hills who made a fortune by switching from opium to lettice? Not.

 

Natural market forces rule what a farmer will grow. Biggest mistake in the world is to try and distort the market for food - it almost never works - and Thailand, despite so many failed experiences, just keeps on with ridiculous schemes for craven political reasons.

 

Artificially supporting farmers is no good for nobody in the end - least of all for them. Yeah, farming is a hard gig >> 'fact of life. Wrapping it in cotton wool is expensive and it doesn't work.

[MarkBR]

56 minutes ago, Purdey said:

It is a good idea to teach rice farmers about alternative crops. They don't make much profit from rice; it is the Chinese Thai rice millers. When the price of rice drops, the millers' profit goes up.

I met a young guy with a mango orchard many years ago and asked how much he could make in a year. He said about one million Baht. 

Maybe they could grow risotto rice & sell to Europe especially Italy.  This might generate a lot more profit.

Drought causes major problems for rice growing in northern Italy.

[John Drake]

1 hour ago, Hktom said:

What bull<deleted> reporting. 

 

'Thailand produces 8000 tonnes of bananas annually'.

 

That number is wrong, way way too low. A back of the envelope calculation suggest that makes 0.75 bananas per person in thailand. 

 

Yes, we have no bananas.

[mran66]

I know nothing about farming. But I know a little bit about thai govt thinking capabilities, and consequently would not be surprised even if officials would propose to replace rice by rye, coffee or Arabic gum for farmers to grow

[BangkokReady]

2 hours ago, NoMoonLogistics said:

Just like all those farmers up in hills who made a fortune by switching from opium to lettice? Not.

 

Natural market forces rule what a farmer will grow. Biggest mistake in the world is to try and distort the market for food - it almost never works - and Thailand, despite so many failed experiences, just keeps on with ridiculous schemes for craven political reasons.

 

Artificially supporting farmers is no good for nobody in the end - least of all for them. Yeah, farming is a hard gig >> 'fact of life. Wrapping it in cotton wool is expensive and it doesn't work.

 

I think the problem is that they like to maintain an image that Thai people grow Thai rice, and Thai rice is the best in the world.  If Thai farmers stop growing Thai rice, it will force people to make uncomfortable realisations about Thailand.  They're also very used to subsidising farmers so they can continue to grow rice, but it seems there is not as much money available for this as there was in the past.

[connda]

Thailand Eyes Banana Farming to Support Struggling Rice Farmers

 

That's like growing weeds.  Actually growing weed (Cannabis) was a good idea but it was made into a system where essentially only connected people could participate. Bananas?  <laughs> Durians has more bang for the buck and if sold at the markets as opposed to selling to a middleman, farmers can make pretty decent money. 

[worgeordie]

Farmers grow Bananas , create a glut , Banana prices drop ,and

bananas are a perishable crop ,ulike rice which you can store till

the price rises....or not

 

regards worgeordie

[johng]

3 hours ago, NoMoonLogistics said:

Just like all those farmers up in hills who made a fortune by switching from opium to lettice? Not.

 

Yet another CIA  operation  production then switched to Afghanistan.

[MarkBR]

Growing bananas right now is silly until they solve the Sigatoga disease problem.

Many other potential crops could be grown.

E.g. Kakadu plum, Davidson's plum, Pataua palm, etc. 

Just need to check on soil types, rainfall/drought tolerance and current values on world market.

Suggesting bananas is just bananas without careful evidence to back it up.

[NoDisplayName]

2025

11 hours ago, webfact said:

In light of tumbling rice prices, the Thai government plans to encourage rice farmers to diversify their crops by cultivating bananas.

Millions of rice farmers switch to bananas.

 

2026

11 hours ago, webfact said:

In light of tumbling banana prices, the Thai government plans to encourage banana farmers to diversify their crops by cultivating catnip.

Millions of banana farmers switch to catnip.

 

2027

11 hours ago, webfact said:

In light of tumbling catnip prices, the Thai government plans to encourage catnip farmers to diversify their crops by cultivating rice.

Millions of catnip farmers switch to rice.

 

2028

Thailand crowned "Hub of Lather-Rinse-Repeat"

[factual monk]

After seeing around in Thailand for few years... one thing that surprises me the most... inspite of having good annual rainfall in Thailand... the most of the agricultural land is left without any farming for one half the year... I won't be wrong to say that Thailand will be the only country that produces only one crop a year rather than 2 crops a year inspite of good rainfall. Government should consider make reservoirs and canals than to plan opening casinos here. If a farmer can produce 2 crops a year... they will have a better financial income and stabily.

[Jerzy Swirski]

6 hours ago, Hktom said:

What bull<deleted> reporting. 

 

'Thailand produces 8000 tonnes of bananas annually'.

 

That number is wrong, way way too low. A back of the envelope calculation suggest that makes 0.75 bananas per person in thailand. 

In 2021, Thailand produced 1,247,600 metric tons of bananas, placing it 19th in the world for banana production. Thailand's banana production is expected to slightly decrease to 1,206,400 metric tons by 2026

[kickstart]

2 hours ago, worgeordie said:

Farmers grow Bananas , create a glut , Banana prices drop ,and

bananas are a perishable crop ,ulike rice which you can store till

the price rises....or not

 

regards worgeordie

Yep, you are right, also you cannot just grow bananas in a rice field, they will just die, rice fields are designed to keep water in any waterlogging ,and the crop will die so the rice fields will have to be drained, not a cheap job, by far way beyond most rice farmers.

As for exporting them to Japan, a joke does anyone know what bananas the Japanese like, it will not be the ones you buy from a roadside stall, they will want a specific variety, with no blemishes, the Japanese consumer is very fussy, something Thailand I would say cannot supply.

This idea comes from the government, and what does a commerce's minister know about growing bananas, about as much as I know about brain surgery.

Another idea that will never grow ..........like bananas for Japan. 

[MarkBR]

1 hour ago, factual monk said:

After seeing around in Thailand for few years... one thing that surprises me the most... inspite of having good annual rainfall in Thailand... the most of the agricultural land is left without any farming for one half the year... I won't be wrong to say that Thailand will be the only country that produces only one crop a year rather than 2 crops a year inspite of good rainfall. Government should consider make reservoirs and canals than to plan opening casinos here. If a farmer can produce 2 crops a year... they will have a better financial income and stabily.

Strange, where my house (the other halfs) is surrounded by paddy fields, and they all do 3 crops a year (rice, soybeans, maize) .  This is south of Chiang Mai.

[dinsdale]

Less money for the millers/middle man (Chinese/Thai Chinese) and more for the farmer. That should sort things out. 

 

[dinsdale]

1 hour ago, factual monk said:

I won't be wrong to say that Thailand will be the only country that produces only one crop a year rather than 2 crops a year inspite of good rainfall.

You are wrong to say "that Thailand will be the only country that produces only one crop a year rather than 2 crops a year inspite [in spite] of good rainfall." There are regions that are not irrigated via khlongs (canals) that have one harvest per year and then there are the irrigated regions that have two. This is "factual".

"Additionally, a proposal to support rice prices by offering farmers an extra 1,000 baht per tonne for off-season rice awaits Cabinet approval." Hmmmm? Seasonal and off season rice. What could this possibly mean? Two crops perhaps?

[dinsdale]

3 hours ago, connda said:

Thailand Eyes Banana Farming to Support Struggling Rice Farmers

 

That's like growing weeds.  Actually growing weed (Cannabis) was a good idea but it was made into a system where essentially only connected people could participate. Bananas?  <laughs> Durians has more bang for the buck and if sold at the markets as opposed to selling to a middleman, farmers can make pretty decent money. 

Durian? I guess if durian could be grown in all rice growing regions it would be. It isn't. Why is this do you think?

[factual monk]

11 hours ago, MarkBR said:

Strange, where my house (the other halfs) is surrounded by paddy fields, and they all do 3 crops a year (rice, soybeans, maize) .  This is south of Chiang Mai.

Im talking of Isan side ... majorly 

[ChaiyaTH]

How to know they are really clueless and this is never going to get better, only worse, well this article basically. Mean while Vietnam has achieved doing like 200-300% more farming yield on the same size land as Thailand already. You gotta suck big time if you can't achieve that after 4 decades.

 

Start to think more and more that is the land of losers, incl most expats.

[impulse]

1 hour ago, ChaiyaTH said:

How to know they are really clueless and this is never going to get better, only worse, well this article basically. Mean while Vietnam has achieved doing like 200-300% more farming yield on the same size land as Thailand already. You gotta suck big time if you can't achieve that after 4 decades.

 

Start to think more and more that is the land of losers, incl most expats.

 

This one says Thailand produces more bananas per hectare than Vietnam...

 

22,000 kg per hectare vs 17,000 kg

 

I have no clue whether it's correct.

 

World Banana Production by Country - AtlasBig.com

 

I wonder what the economics are to switch over to bananas, including lagtime, the cost to swap over, and the cost of production and logistics. 

 

Not to mention, bananas are perishable, while rice apparently lasts over 15 years in a warehouse.  So if the price of either collapses sporadically, I'd rather have my warehouse full of rice.