Thai farmers poorest in ASEAN

[webfact]

Thai farmers poorest in ASEAN



BANGKOK: -- Thai farmers are the poorest among other farmers in Asean countries with their net profit after rice sales falling to1,555.97 baht/ton.

Besides, production cost of Thai farmers is also the highest among other rice growing countries in ASEAN.

According to the survey of the Centre for International Trade Study of the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce, Thai farmers have the least profit from rice sales because of higher production cost.

It said production cost/ton of rice paid by Thai farmers is 9,763.40 baht while rice harvest yields 450 kilogrammes per rai.

They obtained 11,319.37 baht/ton from rice sale. After cost deduction Thai farmers earned just 1,555.97 baht as net profit from a ton of rice sold or 28,035.50 baht earning per year, or 51.08% less than Vietnamese farmers.

For Vietnamese farmers, the survey found that production cost is 4,070.76 baht/ton while rice yield is 900 kilogrammes/rai.

Vietnamese farmers get 7,215.50 baht/ton from rice sales. But after cost deduction, they earned 3,180.74 baht/ton from rice sales, or 54,217.23 baht per year.

Earnings of Thai farmers are also lower than Myanmar farmers.

It said Myanmar farmers have rice production cost of 7,121.76 baht/ton, but they get 10,605.86 baht/ton from rice sales. After cost, they still have 3,484.1 baht as profit, or 55.34% higher than Thai famers’ earnings.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/thai-farmers-poorest-asean/

-- Thai PBS 2014-07-22

[GuestHouse]

The critical information in terms of forecasting where Thailand's rural communities are headed is that relating to land ownership and changes in land ownership.

Investigate that, and you'll discover who the real winners and losers from the PTP Rice Pledging Scam are.

[djjamie]

Hang on..This must be fake news.

Thaksin lead governments (yes, yes yingluck was the PM) have put 1.5 trillion baht into rice schemes over 14 years. yingluck said the rice pledging scheme was aimed at helping rice farmers and the rising incomes of farmers would eventually stimulate the national economy.

Seems one of these narratives is wrong or in the case of a UDD supporter, "fake".

Glad the Junta are focusing on organic and self sustainable farming where the farmers will not have to rely on anyone else, but themselves. It will restore their human values of pride, self-respect and hard work all of which were destroyed under populistic unsustainable schemes designed for anything, but helping the farmers increase their finical worth.

"Earnings of Thai farmers are also lower than Myanmar farmers."

Yingluck - "helping rice farmers and the rising incomes of farmers"

Hope your enjoying your "holiday" yingluck?

Edited July 22, 2014 by djjamie

[GentlemanJim]

One of our relatives sells fruit at a market. She has recently been buying mangosteen direct from the farmer at 3 baht per kilo !!! How does the farmer make anything at 3 baht per kilo The markets then sell it at 10-15 baht per kilo. The farmers have zero hope.

ps does anybody know what to do with the 20kg of mangosteen in my garage. We have eaten it till we can eat no more. Can I make jam, juice, wine, marmalade anything will do.

[EricBerg]

One of our relatives sells fruit at a market. She has recently been buying mangosteen direct from the farmer at 3 baht per kilo !!! How does the farmer make anything at 3 baht per kilo The markets then sell it at 10-15 baht per kilo. The farmers have zero hope.

ps does anybody know what to do with the 20kg of mangosteen in my garage. We have eaten it till we can eat no more. Can I make jam, juice, wine, marmalade anything will do.

Sell it all to TAT for selling one per tourist as a typical Thai product.

[harryfrompattaya]

The Thai Farmers maybe the poorest but if you speak Thai they are happier than any other farmer in the World

Money is not everything this a western thing Happiness is very important in Thailand

[BAYBOY]

Thai farmers may be( maybe?) the happiest farmers in the world but cheap gutrot whiskey helps to bring a smile at the end of the day.

BAYBOY

[ourmanflint]

One of our relatives sells fruit at a market. She has recently been buying mangosteen direct from the farmer at 3 baht per kilo !!! How does the farmer make anything at 3 baht per kilo The markets then sell it at 10-15 baht per kilo. The farmers have zero hope.

ps does anybody know what to do with the 20kg of mangosteen in my garage. We have eaten it till we can eat no more. Can I make jam, juice, wine, marmalade anything will do.

Ice cream or sorbet would be my choice. Just need a bigger freezer

[jaidam]

The Thai Farmers maybe the poorest but if you speak Thai they are happier than any other farmer in the World

Money is not everything this a western thing Happiness is very important in Thailand

Not 16 of them anyway.

[jaltsc]

"Thai farmers are the poorest among other farmers in Asean countries..."

Yet the Thai rice farmers continue to use the same methods, take the same subsidies, and believe the same bull about the next government scheme that will increase their profits, while getting poorer every year. They are either too proud or just plain too thick in the head to change their ways. The rest of the world is not buying Thai rice any more, except as a gourmet product. In a very short time the other ASEAN countries will be producing a higher quality product and be able to sell it for less money than Thai farmers can grow it.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Thailand will fall behind in other industries, including tourism. Making it more difficult to get extended tourist visas is going to backfire very soon and once long term tourists and business entrepreneurs discover friendlier environments in other ASEAN countries,Thailand will reach a point from which it will never recover.

Edited July 22, 2014 by jaltsc

[ezzra]

Poorest in Asean huh? and this with all the hand outs mind you, the village funds, the rice bonanza,

the debt moratorium the government bank cheap loans, where will they be WITHOUT all those

brakes I wonder? one conclusion comes to mind, those farmers simply doesn't know how to

manage their life, work and produce, all those things can be thought, but will they listen?

[plachon]

The critical information in terms of forecasting where Thailand's rural communities are headed is that relating to land ownership and changes in land ownership.

Investigate that, and you'll discover who the real winners and losers from the PTP Rice Pledging Scam are.

Succinctly put GH. One day, people are going to wake up and realise that land distribution is so skewed towards a few neo-feudal families, that farmers (especially those that persist with rice) will be little better-off than serfs in the Middle Ages and new laws will have to be written to accommodate the de facto inequity. Whatever happened to that quaint old law that a single person cannot own more than 100 rai, I wonder? And what has the Agricultural Land Reform Office got to show for its mandate of land redistribution?

[VocalNeal]

yingluck said the rice pledging scheme was aimed at helping rice farmers and the rising incomes of farmers would eventually stimulate the national economy.

Hmmm? While Birthday Boy was brokering rice deals in Dubai?

My take is that the rice pledging scheme was a way of taking money from the big rice traders and putting it in the hands of Pheu Thai. But hey what do I know?

[Hornell]

The reason why Thai rice farmers' production costs are the highest in ASEAN is the fact that they use far more chemical weedkillers and fertilisers than anyone else. The cost of these products is appallingly high. As someone who lives in the north east and who has persuaded the wife and family to use more organic methods both for weed control and fertiliser, our costs per rai have dropped substantially over the past few years with only an initial dip in yield. Everyone is now happier - and healthier - as a result.

[ramrod711]

Has any Thai government ever tried to show the farmers a better way? A forward thinking department of agriculture that holds meetings, and gives farmers alternate crops or a plan for farmers in certain regions grow different crops at different times might be of assistance. I suppose it would require some effort and flexibility and even outside experts, too much work then.

[attrayant]

It's telling that their net worth is directly tied to cash flow. That means zero assets.

[kamahele]

Perhaps the middle men the other ASEAN nations are not making a killing by screwing their farmers like they do here in Thailand.

[Thai at Heart]

The reason why Thai rice farmers' production costs are the highest in ASEAN is the fact that they use far more chemical weedkillers and fertilisers than anyone else. The cost of these products is appallingly high. As someone who lives in the north east and who has persuaded the wife and family to use more organic methods both for weed control and fertiliser, our costs per rai have dropped substantially over the past few years with only an initial dip in yield. Everyone is now happier - and healthier - as a result.

Go and check which companies are in the fertiliser feed stock in Thailand and who are their shareholder.

Its quite telling.

[DrTuner]

Rice, rice, rice, rice, rice, rice, rice, rice, rice, rice .. isn't it one of the worst to grow $-wise ? The lands might well be used for something more profitable.

[ggt]

Makes one wonder...if the rice farmers...might have done much better without the intervention of Thai gov't and politicians...

How much did it cost the farmers and their families...to give their rice to the gov't...which reneged on it's promise to pay promptly for their supporting the rice scheme...?

[GuestHouse]

The critical information in terms of forecasting where Thailand's rural communities are headed is that relating to land ownership and changes in land ownership.

Investigate that, and you'll discover who the real winners and losers from the PTP Rice Pledging Scam are.

Succinctly put GH. One day, people are going to wake up and realise that land distribution is so skewed towards a few neo-feudal families, that farmers (especially those that persist with rice) will be little better-off than serfs in the Middle Ages and new laws will have to be written to accommodate the de facto inequity. Whatever happened to that quaint old law that a single person cannot own more than 100 rai, I wonder? And what has the Agricultural Land Reform Office got to show for its mandate of land redistribution?

The reason I made the point is because Thailand used to have one of the world's highest land ownership per capita ratios.

It was this that sustained Thai people during the Asian financial crash of the mid 90s - Thai people simply went back to the farm.

I've witnessed first hand the massive movement of land from farmers to Thailand's urban elite (mainly to the hands of Thai/Chinese businessmen/women from Bangkok).

This is going to have a significant impact on the character of Thai society and Thai people.

It is certainly going to have an impact on the options open to Thai people when times are hard,

[lostsoul49]

Ironically most Thai farm labour is from other ASEAN countries where in reality it should Thai farmers all going to work in the other countries..

[somo]

yingluck said the rice pledging scheme was aimed at helping rice farmers and the rising incomes of farmers would eventually stimulate the national economy.

Hmmm? While Birthday Boy was brokering rice deals in Dubai?

My take is that the rice pledging scheme was a way of taking money from the big rice traders and putting it in the hands of Pheu Thai. But hey what do I know?

Not a lot

Edited July 22, 2014 by somo

[somo]

The critical information in terms of forecasting where Thailand's rural communities are headed is that relating to land ownership and changes in land ownership.

Investigate that, and you'll discover who the real winners and losers from the PTP Rice Pledging Scam are.

Succinctly put GH. One day, people are going to wake up and realise that land distribution is so skewed towards a few neo-feudal families, that farmers (especially those that persist with rice) will be little better-off than serfs in the Middle Ages and new laws will have to be written to accommodate the de facto inequity. Whatever happened to that quaint old law that a single person cannot own more than 100 rai, I wonder? And what has the Agricultural Land Reform Office got to show for its mandate of land redistribution?

The reason I made the point is because Thailand used to have one of the world's highest land ownership per capita ratios.

It was this that sustained Thai people during the Asian financial crash of the mid 90s - Thai people simply went back to the farm.

I've witnessed first hand the massive movement of land from farmers to Thailand's urban elite (mainly to the hands of Thai/Chinese businessmen/women from Bangkok).

This is going to have a significant impact on the character of Thai society and Thai people.

It is certainly going to have an impact on the options open to Thai people when times are hard,

The huge increase in the price of farmland over the last decade lends credence to the above.

It is no longer ecomical to buy land and use it for agriculture in most areas of Thailand. Something has really skewed the market and I doubt there will be a market correction as very rich people seem to be cornering the market. Unless the junta does something dramatic and orders change but unlikely they will do so as it is their supporters behind it all.

[Thai at Heart]

The critical information in terms of forecasting where Thailand's rural communities are headed is that relating to land ownership and changes in land ownership.

Investigate that, and you'll discover who the real winners and losers from the PTP Rice Pledging Scam are.

Succinctly put GH. One day, people are going to wake up and realise that land distribution is so skewed towards a few neo-feudal families, that farmers (especially those that persist with rice) will be little better-off than serfs in the Middle Ages and new laws will have to be written to accommodate the de facto inequity. Whatever happened to that quaint old law that a single person cannot own more than 100 rai, I wonder? And what has the Agricultural Land Reform Office got to show for its mandate of land redistribution?

The reason I made the point is because Thailand used to have one of the world's highest land ownership per capita ratios.

It was this that sustained Thai people during the Asian financial crash of the mid 90s - Thai people simply went back to the farm.

I've witnessed first hand the massive movement of land from farmers to Thailand's urban elite (mainly to the hands of Thai/Chinese businessmen/women from Bangkok).

This is going to have a significant impact on the character of Thai society and Thai people.

It is certainly going to have an impact on the options open to Thai people when times are hard,

This isn't some new phenomenon. Land distribution has always been poor in Thailand. Its just even worse now.

[Thai at Heart]

The critical information in terms of forecasting where Thailand's rural communities are headed is that relating to land ownership and changes in land ownership.

Investigate that, and you'll discover who the real winners and losers from the PTP Rice Pledging Scam are.

Succinctly put GH. One day, people are going to wake up and realise that land distribution is so skewed towards a few neo-feudal families, that farmers (especially those that persist with rice) will be little better-off than serfs in the Middle Ages and new laws will have to be written to accommodate the de facto inequity. Whatever happened to that quaint old law that a single person cannot own more than 100 rai, I wonder? And what has the Agricultural Land Reform Office got to show for its mandate of land redistribution?

The reason I made the point is because Thailand used to have one of the world's highest land ownership per capita ratios.

It was this that sustained Thai people during the Asian financial crash of the mid 90s - Thai people simply went back to the farm.

I've witnessed first hand the massive movement of land from farmers to Thailand's urban elite (mainly to the hands of Thai/Chinese businessmen/women from Bangkok).

This is going to have a significant impact on the character of Thai society and Thai people.

It is certainly going to have an impact on the options open to Thai people when times are hard,

The huge increase in the price of farmland over the last decade lends credence to the above.

It is no longer ecomical to buy land and use it for agriculture in most areas of Thailand. Something has really skewed the market and I doubt there will be a market correction as very rich people seem to be cornering the market. Unless the junta does something dramatic and orders change but unlikely they will do so as it is their supporters behind it all.

Land purchasing is simply a massive money washing escapade.

[LuckyLew]

Tgat is funny, ithougth TS was gonma make them all rich 555

Ti,e for them to learn a new trade

Sent from my GT-N5100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Skywalker69]

One of our relatives sells fruit at a market. She has recently been buying mangosteen direct from the farmer at 3 baht per kilo !!! How does the farmer make anything at 3 baht per kilo The markets then sell it at 10-15 baht per kilo. The farmers have zero hope.

ps does anybody know what to do with the 20kg of mangosteen in my garage. We have eaten it till we can eat no more. Can I make jam, juice, wine, marmalade anything will do.

Here you go, sir.

http://thedavaogarden.blogspot.com/2012/08/lovely-mangosteen-marmalade.html

[umbanda]

One of our relatives sells fruit at a market. She has recently been buying mangosteen direct from the farmer at 3 baht per kilo !!! How does the farmer make anything at 3 baht per kilo The markets then sell it at 10-15 baht per kilo. The farmers have zero hope.

ps does anybody know what to do with the 20kg of mangosteen in my garage. We have eaten it till we can eat no more. Can I make jam, juice, wine, marmalade anything will do.

You may become millionaire if you find the way to export mangosteen to Europe and the US....or Japan. In Tokio just one piece cost 30THB. Sincerely..I know the way...in frozen paste. That was the way founded in Brazil just few years ago to export Azai fruit ....becoming the fashion and most expensive fruit of the world. Anyway..if you do not know what to do with it ..send it to me. It is my favorite fruit in Thailand, and the season is too short.

[FangFerang]

This situation has been in place for a long time -- hence the wild moves to support Thaksin and elect his proxies. Most land is rented -- the biggest dent the farmers get is from paying share cropper land rental rates.

Duh. Has that changed...no?

I hope the military can undo this indentured slave trade. Thaksin was/is a symptom of a sick culture and top-down subordination that persists even under the junta.

Rant all you want about (red sympathizers) farmers being mistreated and (yellow bellied sap suckers) farmers having their votes bought.

There are not very many games in town. Voters in desperate places will ALWAYS vote for whoever even seems to help them.

That's the Dems failure. They have no interest in raising standards of living. SET and baht trading prices are way more important than the populace.

I keep hearing people complaining about Thaksin, the rice scheme, and the corruption, but I have not heard one single sustainable suggestion -- from either side on TVF -- about how the lives of the desperately poor can be made better. Not one--just a redundant, boring set of attacks on Thaksin and his cronies or indignant outcries for western-style democracy.

If you're not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.

Lowering costs helps some, but not much. Lowering milling costs would do more, as well as lowering middle man selling profits. If that can happen is the both worst guesses and best guesses of anyone.

This crap was going on before any of us here were born, but we think, arrogantly, if we read a few stories, have an assessment, and pick a side to support that it counts for anything.

It doesn't -- it's a big echo chamber, chamber, chamber...