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  1. #1
    Thailand Expat misskit's Avatar
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    Northeastern sugar cane farmers outline problems following drop in product price

    KHON KAEN, 30 May 2018 (NNT) – Sugar cane growers in Thailand's Khon Kaen province have handed a letter to their deputy governor detailing issues surrounding the falling price of their produce and requesting that transport trucks be allowed to stack sugar cane higher to alleviate supply issues.

    The Nam Pong Sugar Cane Growers Association of Nam Pong district in Khon Kaen, represented by Chairman Chaiwat Kamkaen and Chairman of the Central Isan Sugar Cane Growers Association Krairit Wongweeranimit, has made known its disagreement with proposed amendments to the Sugar Cane and Sugar act to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).

    Chaiwat indicated four sugar cane and sugar organizations with processing factories have held rallies targeting their provincial governors to draw their attention to the falling price of sugar cane, which is now at only 880 baht per ton after hitting 1,050 baht just last year. They assured that, despite finding new sources of income for farmers, they have not been able to make up for lost profits.

    The organizations reported to their governors that limitations on sugar cane sales as well as transport of sugar cane have kept supplies stagnant. They asked that a transport limit height of 3.6 meters be increased to 3.8 meters, promising they will take proper precautions to ensure safety.

    The growers also pointed out they have been suffering a shortage of laborers due to strict measures governing foreign workers and disinterest from Thai laborers. Some farm owners have had to go into debt due to being unable to harvest in time to make factory deadlines.

    Khon Kaen Deputy Governor, Suchai Butarasara, accepted the complaints and indicated his desire to help the farmers. He said he would present their letter to the province’s governor and push for the transport limitation to be changed.



    National News Bureau Of Thailand | Northeastern sugar cane farmers outline problems following drop in product price

  2. #2
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    Farang Ky Ay's Avatar
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    They should do more value-added products, I wouldn't mind to buy a decent Rhum locally produced if the price was fair.

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    กงเกวียนกำเกวียน HuangLao's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Farang Ky Ay View Post
    They should do more value-added products, I wouldn't mind to buy a decent Rhum locally produced if the price was fair.

    Might be a more desirable and equitable market if government didn't pursue control and over lording of the agricultural/horticultural sectors.

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    Just another, lets get on the latest farming trend for the area, Cassava/tapioca was first, never saw any when I first came here.
    People started planting, but there were no buyers or factories for the stuff, a factory opened up about 70 km away some years later and the middlemen buyers came, cassava is now a big business.

    2, 3 years ago a guy came around looking to buy land for a sugar cane processing factory, word went out, sugar is the next big earner and people started planting.

    Factory, not even finished yet is 70 km away, no profit in transporting a pick up load 70 km and back, big trucks and contract bulk buyers need to set up first.

    Some of you may remember, years ago, some sort of blight or bug decimated the coconut plantations in the south, buyers were driving around here paying 10 Baht a coconut, coconut planting started in earnest.
    About 2 months later demand dropped back to worthless, plenty of coconut on the ground around the village now, free to anyone who wants to pick them up.

  5. #5
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    KHON KAEN, 30 May 2018 (NNT) – Sugar cane growers in Thailand's Khon Kaen province have handed a letter to their deputy governor detailing issues surrounding the falling price of their produce and requesting that transport trucks be allowed to stack sugar cane higher to alleviate supply issues.
    So the price will go up if the trucks have more on them?

    Christ on a fucking bike.


  6. #6
    Thailand Expat Pragmatic's Avatar
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    It's a 'Monkey see monkey do' world Jim. Around here many have taken to growing sugarcane. The other year it was mushrooms and the year before that it was palm oil and the year before that was rubber and the year.................. But due to the shit state of the soil around here they're limited in what they can grow and always seem to return back to cassava. Price is good at the moment, but tomorrow is another day.
    Last edited by Pragmatic; 30-05-2018 at 08:39 PM.

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    Thailand Expat Pragmatic's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by harrybarracuda View Post
    So the price will go up if the trucks have more on them?
    And the overhead cables will have to be lifted everytime a truck goes underneath.

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    กงเกวียนกำเกวียน HuangLao's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pragmatic View Post
    It's a 'Monkey see monkey do' world Jim. Around here many have taken to growing sugarcane. The other year it was mushrooms and the year before that it palm oil and the year before that was.................. But due to the shit state of the soil they're limited in what they can grow and always seem to return back to cassava. Price is good at the moment, but tomorrow is another day.

    Usually the case - generally speaking....

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    Quote Originally Posted by Pragmatic View Post
    It's a 'Monkey see monkey do' world Jim. Around here many have taken to growing sugarcane. The other year it was mushrooms and the year before that it was palm oil and the year before that was rubber and the year.................. But due to the shit state of the soil around here they're limited in what they can grow and always seem to return back to cassava. Price is good at the moment, but tomorrow is another day.
    Many years ago I posted a video on a day in my village, can't remember which one.
    Another member replied, you still have kids and parents where you live, , where he was, it was mostly older people, the 20 t0 30 year old had gone to the cities for work with their families.

    Today I was walking to the local market, still kids and grandparents, but few working males/females, labor force in rural Thailand is dying off.

    No one here still hand plants rice, sprinkle system, machine harvested, small farming is dead, sugar cane, labor intense, look at Australia.

    Imagine, UK, OZ , NZ, US, EU, 2 hectares, 4 acres, being able to live, own a house, not Thailand's future.

  10. #10
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pragmatic View Post
    And the overhead cables will have to be lifted everytime a truck goes underneath.
    They wouldn't work that out until after at least the first few dozen electrocutions...

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    A load height and weight should be governed by the truck cg and axle limits rather than market factors. I've seen too many trucks toppled to count on fingers and toes in my time in Thailand.

  12. #12
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jamescollister View Post
    Today I was walking to the local market, still kids and grandparents, but few working males/females, labor force in rural Thailand is dying off
    Same here and thoughout the northeast. The total absence of non ag jobs and the mechanization of much of the ag business ensures it is only going to get worse. The ripple impact on the local economy is profound. Small businesses simply can't survive with most wage earners off working in Bangkok and surrounds.

    Until the government decentralize industries nawt will change. A few strategically based BOI areas thoughtout Isaan is sorely needed but not likely. Let the peasants eat cake. Cake they will have to buy from the local OTOP shop.

    Well done leaders of this fine country. Keep it up and payback will be forth coming.
    "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect,"

  13. #13
    Thailand Expat VocalNeal's Avatar
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    Sugar price low yet fuel prices too high, when 20-85 % of the fuel comes from sugar? Something is wrong!

    Quote Originally Posted by jamescollister View Post
    Imagine, UK, OZ , NZ, US, EU, 2 hectares, 4 acres, being able to live, own a house, not Thailand's future.


    I think with 4 acres of UK type soil a family could survive. The problem is with the exception of food, modern communications and travel is cash based. So unless there is a nearby market to sell the excess... to pay for the 15-20,000 baht mobile phone.
    Better to think inside the pub, than outside the box?
    I apologize if any offence was caused. unless it was intended.
    You people, you think I know feck nothing; I tell you: I know feck all
    Those who cannot change their mind, cannot change anything.

  14. #14
    Thailand Expat Pragmatic's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jamescollister View Post
    but few working males/females, labor force in rural Thailand is dying off.
    May be because they can get labour cheaper from Cambodia. Around where I live the Cambodian labour gangs are a common site. As for the future times are a changin. I think Thai women to be lazy and the young girls just want to find a farang.
    Quote Originally Posted by jamescollister View Post
    No one here still hand plants rice
    It all depends on the rains Jim. Little or no rain you cannot push the rice plant into the soil. Plenty of rain the ground is soft/muddy. Machines are used where the ground is relatively too hard for manual planting. That's how I see it.

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    Thailand Expat
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    ^^ In the UK It would be possible to a family of 5 to live off 4 acres of land if the house was paid for and the location isn't too demanding regards tax. The tax is the killer, which leaves people with very little to spare unless outside income is available. The problem with Isaan is that the land is only good for one crop per season without water pumps.

  16. #16
    Thailand Expat Airportwo's Avatar
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    I live in an area that is predominately sugar cane, the wife has 17 Rai of the stuff, I seem to recall when the land was turned over to sugar cane there was a government handout involved.
    The burning sugar cane season is now over thankfully (even though it is illegal - nothing done!) having the black ash floating on the swimming pool is a pain, no consideration these people
    The price of sugar cane is a lot higher when it is harvested without burning, but nobody wants to do that - cant say as I blame them!

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pragmatic View Post
    May be because they can get labour cheaper from Cambodia. Around where I live the Cambodian labour gangs are a common site. As for the future times are a changin. I think Thai women to be lazy and the young girls just want to find a farang.
    It all depends on the rains Jim. Little or no rain you cannot push the rice plant into the soil. Plenty of rain the ground is soft/muddy. Machines are used where the ground is relatively too hard for manual planting. That's how I see it.
    Little or no Lao , or Cambodian labor around here, except illegal logging and drug smuggling.
    Legal quest workers would cost much more than locals, it's a cash in hand type of place, no taxes or social security paid.

    As to the rice thing, they wait for the rain and throw the seeds [rice] into the fields, a lot less rice per rai, but little work, harvest time, rice harvester drives his machine over the paddy field. He get his price per ria, local sell what's left after they take the years supply.

    Cassava will be next, really hard work to harvest, tried 3 crops myself, waste of time, profit from one season was 3 boxes of leo.
    Big harvesting machines are out there, not cheap, but they will come and probably farmers will just become sub contractors for the big agro companies.

    Pigs where everywhere here, 10 years ago, small farmers were force out, CP started contract farming, CP supply all that's needed and the farmers really just works for wages.

    Not seen it yet, but hear on the grapevine, gas rubber tapping is on offer, company takes over good plantations, owner gets 50% of the profits.

    Few small farmers left in the west and big agriculture is here in SEA, just the way of the world.

  18. #18
    Thailand Expat
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    Quote Originally Posted by Norton View Post
    Until the government decentralize industries nawt will change. A few strategically based BOI areas thoughtout Isaan is sorely needed but not likely.
    Well done leaders of this fine country.
    All the incentives for a good business go to the Eastern Seaboard. When you drive direction Pattaya, Rayong you will see thousands of factories, Industry Estates with wonderful production that hardly is known about Thailand (not only handicraft souvenirs).

    However, you will hardly see any Moo Baan, so where the factories get the workers from?
    Of course from Issan, 1,000 km far away...

    This is going on over 40 - 50 years, inependently on any "democratically elected" govt. Who will dare to change it?

  19. #19
    Thailand Expat Pragmatic's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jamescollister View Post
    As to the rice thing, they wait for the rain and throw the seeds [rice] into the fields
    Agreed but when the seed doesnt germinate and the tractors can't negotiate the mud it's back to hand planting.

    Northeastern sugar cane farmers outline problems following drop in product price-001-jpg Northeastern sugar cane farmers outline problems following drop in product price-002-jpg
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Northeastern sugar cane farmers outline problems following drop in product price-001-jpg   Northeastern sugar cane farmers outline problems following drop in product price-002-jpg  

  20. #20
    กงเกวียนกำเกวียน HuangLao's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Troy View Post
    ^^ In the UK It would be possible to a family of 5 to live off 4 acres of land if the house was paid for and the location isn't too demanding regards tax. The tax is the killer, which leaves people with very little to spare unless outside income is available. The problem with Isaan is that the land is only good for one crop per season without water pumps.

    Depends largely on what horticultural/agriculture product that is grown.....

  21. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by HuangLao View Post
    Depends largely on what horticultural/agriculture product that is grown.....
    Depends largely on what horticultural/agriculture product that is grown.....[/QUOTE]Don't think anyone could live on a small holding in the west.

    I do rubber, North Australia, tropics, land is cheaper than Thailand, rubber can grow, cassava no problem and any other type of tropical fruit.

    Problem is laws, regulations and tax, western governments prohibit small enterprises, by taxing them out of business, I pay [think. wife takes care it ] 5 Baht a rai, 25 Baht an acre, no work cover insurance for workers, they are subcontractors, percentage workers.

    Know that big business will one day buy me out, if I'm alive [not bones in the Wat] and it will buy out all the peon farmers around here.

    Then everybody will have an SUV, 55 inch TV, until the money runs out, then work their own land for wages or move to the factories in the city.

  22. #22
    กงเกวียนกำเกวียน HuangLao's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Norton View Post
    Same here and thoughout the northeast. The total absence of non ag jobs and the mechanization of much of the ag business ensures it is only going to get worse. The ripple impact on the local economy is profound. Small businesses simply can't survive with most wage earners off working in Bangkok and surrounds.

    Until the government decentralize industries nawt will change. A few strategically based BOI areas thoughtout Isaan is sorely needed but not likely. Let the peasants eat cake. Cake they will have to buy from the local OTOP shop.

    Well done leaders of this fine country. Keep it up and payback will be forth coming.

    All your comments above should set off concerns, as Thailand is still agriculturally-based and dependent that requires living/breathing infrastructure for it's success.
    Less, the intrinsic of community that is the life blood of Thai society.

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