Rubber is the big growth crop around here, north of Ubon. Unfortunately we're losing forest, not paddy, to make way for it- I figured it was something to do with drainage, but your post confirmed that Jim. Mil (quite the environmentalist actually) surprised me by having 5 rai of her land cleared recently to make way for rubber too, which makes for a tiny plantation, but she just looks upon it as a bit of pocket money in her later years, and some family employment. So we're in the rubber business too.