Alternate crops for rice paddies?

[Issangeorge]

My wife was saying the other day that the government wants people to grow something other than rice. However what crops will grow in rice paddies in the rainy season other than rice? To convert rice paddies would take a ton of money, that normal farmers don't have, and during the rainy season the paddies are pretty much flooded. So is there another crop that would grow in these flooded paddies? Thanks

[Goldie09]

I think the return of brown and wild rice types could be worth researching. There will be a large move towards this when the effects of white rice is fully known with regard to Diabeties and other health related issues.

Would be interested in what others think...

[billphillips]

I would stick with the rice, it's possible that a huge shortage is looming.

[NeverSure]

The world over, the diet and crops tend to be what grows there best. In SE Asia the clay soil in flood plains lends itself to growing rice. There isn't a lot you can do if you can't either drain it or fill it. Most food plants simply don't like wet feet. Rice, as in most grains, is a low value crop and this is one reason the people are poor. A high value crop would be something like vegetables, berries, fruit trees, nuts, cocoa, coffee...

As an aside, I like going to different places with different climates and soils to eat their food because the "peasant food" is usually locally grown and often delicious as it is in Thailand. Over time the people develop recipes for what they have and it's a treat to visit.

Cheers

[farmerjo]

Maybe you could plant reeds that make floor(picnic) mats.

[xen]

I think the return of brown and wild rice types could be worth researching. There will be a large move towards this when the effects of white rice is fully known with regard to Diabeties and other health related issues.

Would be interested in what others think...

Brown rice is only white rice with the husks still on but we were interested in doing brown rice but the major problem we encountered was getting it processed as the boys who run the mills get extra money from selling the husks and the mills need to be re-set for brown apparently. We investigated the possibility of buying a Chinese mill and doing it ourself but were warned off by the red shirt mafia at the time who had fingers in rice production in most Issan Villages. It maybe worth considering again and setting up distribution through a few local food markets but as usual it is important not to step on toes doing these things.

Stevia may be an alternative crop to consider. Apparently there are a few areas around Burriram that are already experimenting with it but i don't know much more than that.

[canuckamuck]

There is a thread running about growing limes in concrete rings on paddy land.

[soidog2]

If you have more than a couple of rai; sugar cane is a viable cash crop way more profitable than rice.

You need to level the dikes, insure your newly leveled land has some natural drainage; fertilize, plant.

It will tolerate wet feet for a while.

[gazzasore]

I have thought about growing Sweet Potatoes in the off season

Does anyone do this

[Goldie09]

There are many types of rice which will become more popular due to the health information available. Looking at Wikipedia is interesting. Not sure best way but I found it interesting about the processing details from Xen. Looking to but a processing mill next door, but this is in Laos so not too sure if the same applies.

[BSJ]

Working in the paddie sucks....luckily it was the contractors doing the work and not me! But it didnt take long before I tossed the gumboots! Pic's from yesterday.

[cooked]

You need water in many areas to cultivate outside of the rice season. This means that you also need pumps and somebody to make sure the pumps don't get nicked. The son in law has tried many crops.including tobacco, and the cost of pesticides and fertiliser made it unprofitable. What also tends to happen is that if your neighbours see you doing well, the next year everyone will be cultivating the same thing, resulting in low prices.

I know this all sounds negative but I too was going to revolutionise That agriculture until I was confronted by reality. The only thing I might be interested in is peppercorn cultivation, needs a lot of preparation (they need supports and shading) and maintenance until you get crops after three years. Even then, you have to go through the fields every day. Nobody doing that around here.