Same Old Same Old

[Formaleins]

Looks like the poor old farmers are getting shafted again this year with their fruit crops.

The Lam Yai price has plummeted yet again this year down from a high of about 33 Baht a kilo to about 12 Baht this year for the AA Grade.

 

Obviously there is not much the poor buggers can do - set up a union, a co operative? Maybe get shot or beaten to death..mmmm.

 

So, as another fruit season passes, the only ones making any money this year are the Durian growers, any idea why?

 

Never mind, we can see by our great leader that he places more emphasis on his self righteous drivel about harmony in Thailand than actually doing something for poor people...oh yes, I forgot, Chan O Cha is not poor!

 

Good that he stood up to make sure that all of the poor people he and his government have just sold down the swanny for their crop this year have all been duly warned that they should NOT go out and make a protest when the illegal military Junta attempt to fine and jail Jingluck later next month, seems the fool in the emperors new clothes foresees a bit of strife?

[billd766]

Could the reason that the price is so low be that there is a glut of lam yai in the market place?

 

Part of the problem is that if several farmers in an area grow a fruit and make a big profit, then all the farmers do the same. The net result is a glut on the market place and a drop in the sales price followed by a drop in the farm gate prices and all of a sudden there are too many farmers chasing too few buyers.

 

As an example.

 

I moved up here to rural Khampaeng Phet 13 years ago and there was 1 resort doing very well. 5 years later there were nearly 20 resorts and none of them are doing very well at all.

 

It is a buyers market at the moment and farmers will get what the buyer offers and if they don't take that price there is always another farmer who will.

[Kwasaki]

4 minutes ago, billd766 said:

Could the reason that the price is so low be that there is a glut of lam yai in the market place?

 

Part of the problem is that if several farmers in an area grow a fruit and make a big profit, then all the farmers do the same.

Spot on Bill same old same old, the coffee shop scenario,  European restaurant just to name a few. 

[swissie]

Well, the above posts have basically said it all.

Supply and Demand seems to be something, that Thai's have a very hard time to comprehend. (Not only in Farming).
So yes, it's "same old, same old" every year.

If an agri-product fetches a high price this year, everybody including his uncle will plant the crop. So, due to oversupply, the price will be in the cellar the following year.

In my time, I have tried to convince local farmers to break away from this "herd-pattern" and plant "anti-cyclical".

Pointless, nobody listened to the "stupid Farang". So, on and on it goes, year after year.
Cheers.
PS: This has nothing to do with the "Government".

[chickenslegs]

Let's be fair to the PM - he thinks he resolved the Lamyai problem several weeks ago.

 

[billd766]

13 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

Let's be fair to the PM - he thinks he resolved the Lamyai problem several weeks ago.

 

 

The second photo is nicer to look at than the first one though. 

[jeab1980]

Supply and demand old fruit. Everybody puts loads out there at a set time of year hence price drops. Durian growers dont make that much money,yes it may be up to 100 to 130 a kilo at road side shops/cars. Thats down to transportation costs, and sell on costs to the sellers. Go into a Durian farm and buy say 40 k no where near 100bht more like 40 to 45bht a kilo.

I grow and sell a very easy to grow as i call it lemon grass (cant even pronounce what the thais call it) its used for everything cooking wise from stuffing a fish before its BBQ'd to pappiya salad around here. Now ive figured out the glut of this is on the market june to August. Price per kilo drops dead 10bht if your lucky. I plant it in August for next years crop so this years crop will be ready for picking late august onwards i have enough to supply a local buyer daily untill December i get between 35 to 45bht per kilo.(well i dont my lad who picks and cuts it does he has a very healthy bank balance for a teenager. 1 and a half hrs work per day can nets him up to 270bht You have to look outside the box. Trying  corn on the cob this year always a good seller.

As someone said coffee shop mentality never works

Edited July 27, 2017 by jeab1980

[marko kok prong]

It is a very hard life to be a farmer.

[Dmaxdan]

I think the strength of the baht is having an effect on the lamyai price this year. A huge percentage of the harvested fruit is exported to places like China, whether fresh, canned or dried. I can't believe that in the space of one year there is now double the amount of produce being sold at local markets.


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

[smotherb]

On 7/27/2017 at 9:40 PM, marko kok prong said:

It is a very hard life to be a farmer.

depends upon the quality and quantity of your land

[thaibeachlovers]

Supply and demand- exactly.

In NZ some years back Kiwi fruit were making lots of money and those growing it got very rich. On of my friends got to buy lots of land and live in a mansion. Other friends jumped on the Kiwi fruit bandwagon ( along with thousands of others ) just too late, and lost every cent they put into it. Now there are a lot less Kiwifruit growers.

 

I'm sure it happens in LOS too, with things like lamyai.

[sirmud63]

On 7/26/2017 at 10:07 PM, chickenslegs said:

Let's be fair to the PM - he thinks he resolved the Lamyai problem several weeks ago.