Quote Originally Posted by Moolek View Post
From one of Jim's recent posts I see him quoting 3-5 kg dry/year/tree for local Thai farmers in his area. I am trying to figure out what that translates into as far as baht per tree goes if you are doing lump.

I see the figures quoted in the low 30's baht/kg for cup rubber but I don't know what the typical water content of the cup rubber is. If it is only low 30's baht/kg adjusted back to dry weight then we are gonna be making less than I hoped.

We planted about 2200 RRIM600 trees about 3 years ago. We have had about 300 die post planting most of which have been replanted. This is the last year I will bother to replant and I think we will have to do about 80 to fill everything out. Most of the replants are RRIM3001's. By the time we get to cutting them I am hoping that at least 2000 of the trees are good producers. We have taken good care of the trees though a few have slightly low branches (2.5m), from when we were away for a year and had other look after the trees. The trees are on 2 separate plots of land, one plot of land is slightly higher than the other and the trees are doing a bit better on this plot than the other but both plots are looking very good when I compare them to our neighbors. I don't see any reason why we shouldn't get at least an average production though I know I can expect low production for the first couple of years.

So if any of the experts out there would be so kind, I would like them to take a look at my numbers and tell me if I am off the wall with my annual revenue estimates.

2000 producing trees * 5kg/tree/year * 35 baht/kg(cup lump) / 70% water content

By my math that comes out to 500,000 baht per year gross.

If I am wrong about how the water content works then it would be only 350,000 baht per year gross.

Doesn't seem like a very good return but my biggest concern is finding the workers.

If you figure I need 3 guys to do 2000 trees then they will only be making 46,000 per year, (350,000*40%/3). That's only 4,600 per month per worker if you figure 10 months per year.

Does any of this make sense or am I completely of my nut with my numbers?

If you ain't off your nut now mate..trying to get a handle on probables re rubber yield and profit will send you there. IMO it ends up being "suck it and see"..best way then no dissappointments and maybe some pleasant surprises.As they say if you must plan "plan for the worst and hope for the best". Good luck D