Thailand is one of the biggest exporters of rice in the world. For how long?

Here in Wiengchai, Chiangrai, farmers are changing the rice for the trees that produce latex. Reason? They simply cannot sell the rice for the price even enough to pay the plants, fertilizer, preparing the land, harvesting and labor.

The price of rice in the shops more than doubled the price compared with a few years ago. The farmers however still get the same Old price. So I cannot blame them.

They only produce rice here for themselves and the family.

How is it in your region?

Nothing new ,nothing odd, nothing unusual. Many PADDY farmers in Southern Isarn, grow PADDY to feed their families. Most are small area farmers, 5 to 10 Rai. Part of the low price story is that last year Vietnam depreciated their currency, making their rice cheaper than Thailand's True , if the land is high enough ,and can be drained, they too are planting rubber trees here. Vietnam competes with rice varieties from Central and Northern Thailand. Isarn rice is Khao Hom Mali. which Vietnam cannot grow.