Rice Farming

[flightest]

hi there, am looking for some advice my girlfriend has 16 rai of rice land in Chainat apparently they have 3 crops a year there, does anyone know how much money this would approx generate in a year. also she has 2 rai of land which is doing nothing, any suggestions as what would be best to grow or breed on this land??

[Dancealot]

Everything depends on how the land is treated. Approx harvests rely on the farmers' respect to the land but more importantly on nature's way.

What would be the best to grow on the unused land is dependable on your location. This is what i learned here...

[IsaanAussie]

FT,

The best person to ask would be your girlfriend. The details of the split up of costs and proceeds can be anything. But to give some indication we make about 4,500 to 5,000 baht/rai per crop. Now, that is rainfed rice, not irrigated rice, so beware.

In my experience if the land is idle now it will stay that way regardless unless someone works it. The current situation is unlikely to change despite all the plans and money to make it happen.

Until you actually know the whole story, smile, nod and leave your wallet in your pocket.

[jamescollister]

Totally agree with IA on this, G/F would know how much money comes from her rice. If she is farming rice now why would she want to involve you, or is there more to the story. Jim

[flightest]

hi , at the moment her land is being farmed by someone else and they pay her rent, she is not trying to involve me, i have my own business in phuket, soon in the future she wants to go home and thats why i am interested in how much approx can be made from the Rice

[tingtong]

you said the land has access to water, and can do 2-3 crops/yr there...

i am 100% positive your gf could make more than the rent she makes now, without even touching anything....BUT she will have to be there supervising the things to be done, not only to be said they had been.

our costs per rai were:

500b for tractor, 1000b for fertiliser, say 200b for seed, and 500b for spaying, 700b for cutting(mashine)....

this totals about 2900b...add maybe another 500b for misc costs, things i might forget, maybe throw in another 500b for pumping water? dry season....

still, it is 3900b.

if you have an avarage yield of 400kg ( a conservative estimate if you have access to water when you need, and no waiting or praying for rain!) and a price of about 15b/kg to sell the paddy, that is 6000b.

so, you should be good for 2000b/rai +, and if yo have yield of say 600kg, than since the costs are same that is about 5000b/rai profit, quite in line with IA's estimation

you said that there is 2, maybe 3 plenting? so, that could make 2x-3x the profit, so,

as the low side 16rai x 2000b x 2 plenting = 64.000b/yr

as the high side 16 rai x 5000b x 3 plenting = 240.000b/yr

i would think somewhere between this 2 numbers should lie your answer

[IsaanAussie]

hi , at the moment her land is being farmed by someone else and they pay her rent, she is not trying to involve me, i have my own business in phuket, soon in the future she wants to go home and thats why i am interested in how much approx can be made from the Rice

Jim was a little more direct than me, but he is right. Worry about continuously maintaining your income in Phuket or maximising your withdrawal if you chose to live here as both Jim amd I have, hearts over minds and wallets. But be under no illusion, rice will not replace what you have now.

[flightest]

Thanks for that,i just need to think of other ideas to bring in a bit more cash,

[flightest]

hi , at the moment her land is being farmed by someone else and they pay her rent, she is not trying to involve me, i have my own business in phuket, soon in the future she wants to go home and thats why i am interested in how much approx can be made from the Rice

Jim was a little more direct than me, but he is right. Worry about continuously maintaining your income in Phuket or maximising your withdrawal if you chose to live here as both Jim amd I have, hearts over minds and wallets. But be under no illusion, rice will not replace what you have now.

yes i know it wont, i am doing ok now, but i fancy giving chainat a try, maybe not farming, ive been a few times so i have seen the area, and it is slowly becoming more westernised with Tesco and Kfc, maybe i will try a small business there

[TommoPhysicist]

Thanks for that,i just need to think of other ideas to bring in a bit more cash,

You will never make money from her land.

Accept that and move on.

[flightest]

Thanks for that,i just need to think of other ideas to bring in a bit more cash,

You will never make money from her land.

Accept that and move on.

many people said i would fail in phuket, but i never,, accept that and move on

[IsaanAussie]

Thanks for that,i just need to think of other ideas to bring in a bit more cash,

You will never make money from her land.

Accept that and move on.

many people said i would fail in phuket, but i never,, accept that and move on

Good for you FT,

One word. Your business in Phuket is a feather in the cap, not a recipe for Chai Nat. Count the farang "dependance" you have in Phuket and the only thing to consider in rural Thailand in farang numbers. If I am wrong and you cater to Thais in Phuket, then compare the disposable incomes!

As my grandfather told me once "You can only milk a cow twice a day"

[TommoPhysicist]

many people said i would fail in phuket, but i never,, accept that and move on

If you are a success, why are you looking for ways to make more money?

[IsaanAussie]

Actually I need to add something here. Most farangs get used to Thai cost structures. They will not pay Phuket prices here in the bloonies...

[flightest]

firstly my business caters mainly to Thais, yes i know there is alot more disposable income in phuket, but it also cost alot to run a business in phuket, were as in chainat it wont, the farming was just an idea to raise a little cash,it would not be my main business,i spent some time in chainat last month and the few restaurants and bars that are there are quite busy, the place is crying out for entertainment , , and yes my business in phuket is a success because i have fantasic hard working staff,its not about making more money, its about possibly relocating in the future,

[IsaanAussie]

firstly my business caters mainly to Thais, yes i know there is alot more disposable income in phuket, but it also cost alot to run a business in phuket, were as in chainat it wont, the farming was just an idea to raise a little cash,it would not be my main business,i spent some time in chainat last month and the few restaurants and bars that are there are quite busy, the place is crying out for entertainment , , and yes my business in phuket is a success because i have fantasic hard working staff,its not about making more money, its about possibly relocating in the future,

Please dont get me wrong. I've seen the absolute top end of Hi-So and now live Low-So by choice. The two are in no way related. Happy to take this off line if you like as I see your motives are real and if my experiences can help, more than happy to repay others that helped me. PM any time

[jamescollister]

hi , at the moment her land is being farmed by someone else and they pay her rent, she is not trying to involve me, i have my own business in phuket, soon in the future she wants to go home and thats why i am interested in how much approx can be made from the Rice

For me this [she is renting the land ] would set off some alarm bells. Does she not have family there. If she has family why are they not working the land or hiring people to plant and harvest, more return.

Best to get all the facts, if that is possible here, do the numbers. Sometimes things appear to be something they are not. Out here, this rice harvest, farmers could not get workers.

Many off the small fields are now being opened up to allow machine harvesting. All costs that may or may not make a viable return.

You are not a Thai and can not live on sticky rice and frogs and in farming you need to be on site. Absentee farang farmers seldom win. Jim

[IsaanAussie]

Oh come on Jim, you have met my "family". You and I have been here a long time but still get our <deleted> wiped. Yes, acreages are down, yields are rubbish, but Thais still pay for people who know "MAGIC". Spend the day staring at a bowl of rice and ants. Older people are still not challenged on their acquired wisedom. You know you are right, so do I. How does someone who may have a western education but lack the experience of dealing with a "cause no offence" culture express the simple word, "F'ing Bullshit!"

[RedBullHorn]

you said the land has access to water, and can do 2-3 crops/yr there...

i am 100% positive your gf could make more than the rent she makes now, without even touching anything....BUT she will have to be there supervising the things to be done, not only to be said they had been.

our costs per rai were:

500b for tractor, 1000b for fertiliser, say 200b for seed, and 500b for spaying, 700b for cutting(mashine)....

this totals about 2900b...add maybe another 500b for misc costs, things i might forget, maybe throw in another 500b for pumping water? dry season....

still, it is 3900b.

if you have an avarage yield of 400kg ( a conservative estimate if you have access to water when you need, and no waiting or praying for rain!) and a price of about 15b/kg to sell the paddy, that is 6000b.

so, you should be good for 2000b/rai +, and if yo have yield of say 600kg, than since the costs are same that is about 5000b/rai profit, quite in line with IA's estimation

you said that there is 2, maybe 3 plenting? so, that could make 2x-3x the profit, so,

as the low side 16rai x 2000b x 2 plenting = 64.000b/yr

as the high side 16 rai x 5000b x 3 plenting = 240.000b/yr

i would think somewhere between this 2 numbers should lie your answer

Spraying on that size of plot (16 rai) will cost ฿1'500 and ฿500 for 5 rai here in Chiang Rai.

The lowest yield here in my village is 470kg/rai and the highest yield is 1'130kg/rai. (i heard of higher figure of 1'180kg/rai in another village)

The UIL did an average of 750kg/rai totaling 26 rai last year (2nd crop, Hom Mali 105) and profitted ฿270'000 after variable cost.

This year he is targeting ฿300'000 with an addition 5 rai totaling 31 rai. (2nd crop, cost include combine harvester at ฿750/rai)

[RedBullHorn]

many people said i would fail in phuket, but i never,, accept that and move on

If you are a success, why are you looking for ways to make more money?

I am by many standard, successful (very) my Big Oui catfish farm is making a sizable return annually, i got good reputation (extremely)in my farming cycle, may it be pigs or catfishes, with a credit term of 45 days ++. I own a tractors' spare parts shop + home DIY with reasonable turn-over per annium. I'm back up with investment in my home country Singapore + East Malaysia. I'm supported by my group of wholesalers (catfishes arena) to expend my farming quota (renting ponds) JUST to satisfied off season (they approved ฿5 mil, no question ask !!!)

Plus i have 2 houses and 2 cars, 1 ATV, 2 bikes.(3rd for my son, on the way) I ate Salmon sashimi at ฿1'400/salmon (buy at Maekro and slice it myself every week) and drink 3 of bottles Lao Khao with villagers everynight with Kup Kam(sometimes Tiger prawns Thai call it kuoong Choi Buoi) at ฿400+-/night/every night...

Why do i need to look for ways to make more money !?!! Because I'M GOOD AT IT !!! (I'd feel retarded if i stop working my peanut brain)

No offense flightest, I just couldn't help myself on such a sesame seed brain poster. (IsaanAussie knows best)

Edited January 22, 2013 by RedBullHorn

[tingtong]

you said the land has access to water, and can do 2-3 crops/yr there...

i am 100% positive your gf could make more than the rent she makes now, without even touching anything....BUT she will have to be there supervising the things to be done, not only to be said they had been.

our costs per rai were:

500b for tractor, 1000b for fertiliser, say 200b for seed, and 500b for spaying, 700b for cutting(mashine)....

this totals about 2900b...add maybe another 500b for misc costs, things i might forget, maybe throw in another 500b for pumping water? dry season....

still, it is 3900b.

if you have an avarage yield of 400kg ( a conservative estimate if you have access to water when you need, and no waiting or praying for rain!) and a price of about 15b/kg to sell the paddy, that is 6000b.

so, you should be good for 2000b/rai +, and if yo have yield of say 600kg, than since the costs are same that is about 5000b/rai profit, quite in line with IA's estimation

you said that there is 2, maybe 3 plenting? so, that could make 2x-3x the profit, so,

as the low side 16rai x 2000b x 2 plenting = 64.000b/yr

as the high side 16 rai x 5000b x 3 plenting = 240.000b/yr

i would think somewhere between this 2 numbers should lie your answer

Spraying on that size of plot (16 rai) will cost ฿1'500 and ฿500 for 5 rai here in Chiang Rai.

The lowest yield here in my village is 470kg/rai and the highest yield is 1'130kg/rai. (i heard of higher figure of 1'180kg/rai in another village)

The UIL did an average of 750kg/rai totaling 26 rai last year (2nd crop, Hom Mali 105) and profitted ฿270'000 after variable cost.

This year he is targeting ฿300'000 with an addition 5 rai totaling 31 rai. (2nd crop, cost include combine harvester at ฿750/rai)

Thx RBH, nice you adding to it.

the spraying was a general number, not exact, though including the actual chemical too in that cost. still might be bit off, as i did some myself, where there is no price attached.

About the yeilds i preferred to give numbers on the conservative side; we got personally lot lot less this year, and was nowhere near 500kg/rai any other time neither...rainfed rice, not the best soil...

Anyway, wanted to give the OP some numbers to start with, as there was lots of things on this thread, but not too much in way to answer to his specific question.

And i sincerely agree with your philosophy, why not make supplemetal income/more income, if one can?

As well to some post, OP mentioned that consider moving, ie. maybe wont be absentee farmer then, per se.

The question wasnt about making a living from the 16 rai, but some income, and he has a chance to do.

As for why renting the gf? why not? family might pay might not if they work that land, i only got the distant family to do here some when they had no money to pay for using the land, so, can relate actually. here ppl rent out land when they need to raise some cash, for whatever reason, but they dont want to sell out...not worse that a loanshark, so, again, i fail to see the point....especially if she has a job, or a mean of living anywhere else.

just to share some of my tingtong thoughts

[flightest]

_{thanks to those of you who have shared your information with me. i know it wont be easy but i believe if you do your homework then your half way there}

[Canada]

Personally I think there is money to be made farming. Knowledge, good work habits, good help, money and good luck all help make a farm successful. Lack of any of these can bring it down.

You can only get so much off 16 rai though......

[flightest]

Personally I think there is money to be made farming. Knowledge, good work habits, good help, money and good luck all help make a farm successful. Lack of any of these can bring it down.

You can only get so much off 16 rai though......

yes i iagree with you, personally i dont really know much about farming, it would only be another form of income, my girlfriend knows all about the farm side of things as she did this when she was young,i am hoping at the end of the year to spend some time in Chainat to weigh situation up

[farmerjo]

you said the land has access to water, and can do 2-3 crops/yr there...

i am 100% positive your gf could make more than the rent she makes now, without even touching anything....BUT she will have to be there supervising the things to be done, not only to be said they had been.

our costs per rai were:

500b for tractor, 1000b for fertiliser, say 200b for seed, and 500b for spaying, 700b for cutting(mashine)....

this totals about 2900b...add maybe another 500b for misc costs, things i might forget, maybe throw in another 500b for pumping water? dry season....

still, it is 3900b.

if you have an avarage yield of 400kg ( a conservative estimate if you have access to water when you need, and no waiting or praying for rain!) and a price of about 15b/kg to sell the paddy, that is 6000b.

so, you should be good for 2000b/rai +, and if yo have yield of say 600kg, than since the costs are same that is about 5000b/rai profit, quite in line with IA's estimation

you said that there is 2, maybe 3 plenting? so, that could make 2x-3x the profit, so,

as the low side 16rai x 2000b x 2 plenting = 64.000b/yr

as the high side 16 rai x 5000b x 3 plenting = 240.000b/yr

i would think somewhere between this 2 numbers should lie your answer

Spraying on that size of plot (16 rai) will cost ฿1'500 and ฿500 for 5 rai here in Chiang Rai.

The lowest yield here in my village is 470kg/rai and the highest yield is 1'130kg/rai. (i heard of higher figure of 1'180kg/rai in another village)

The UIL did an average of 750kg/rai totaling 26 rai last year (2nd crop, Hom Mali 105) and profitted ฿270'000 after variable cost.

This year he is targeting ฿300'000 with an addition 5 rai totaling 31 rai. (2nd crop, cost include combine harvester at ฿750/rai)

I have had 17 rai leveled and would like to plant some rice but know little about it.

Can anyone tell me what variety to plant this time of year and more importantly how many kilo's of seed per rai as i will be direct seeding it,not the traditional hand planting method.

Cheers steve