Thread: Seeking Farm or Agriculture Enterprise Involvement

Hi folks! I started browsing all the postings on the Farming & Gardening sub-group, but didn't find exactly what I was looking for. Someone said an Israeli (?) woman named BIMA was doing farming in Thailand, but I couldn't find her profile. Anyway, finally decided to start a new thread. I have 25 years experience in agriculture including 16 years in Southeast Asia and am looking for an interesting agriculture enterprise in Southeast Asia (preferrably Thailand) to get involved in. Could be a farm, plantation or a contract growing scheme with small-holders. I have experience with coffee, cocoa, vegetables, and rice, but interested in all ideas. I would consider straight out employment, profit-sharing, and/or co-investment with the right partner. Any one out there interested or know folks that I could contact?? Thanks! Aggie

Bina posts on ThaiVisa

Simon

She's married to a Thai, God help her, but lives in Israel. So I understand. She's also a 'Mod' on Thaivisa. But a decent one, if there's such a thing ?

most people here who have a farm tend not to make any profit but just do it because it is fun, and like the idea of growing their own produce

Originally Posted by tsicar

it is possible you will soon recieve a pm from someone who has a "wonderfull aquaculture setup" up and running , just needing major investment/partners to get it off the ground. for your own good, avoid this, since the fellow is a fraudster who has taken a good number of people for a massive ride and they have incurred major losses along the way.

interesting Tsico, tell us more, or maybe a new thread in "members"

Originally Posted by DrAndy

most people here who have a farm tend not to make any profit

I've been telling new farangs this for years but they carry on regardless, because they believe their teelak first and foremost. Not one, once they start farming, will admit they made a mistake. Or do they tell the truth and make money ?

The ones that make the money are the processor, the big rice buyer, the big tapioca processors...

There is a german in the Phils here, he invests in farming and all he does is trying all kinds of stuff out of their normal season.

So all the products get 30 to 300 % more value in the market, interesting read the guy, well documented and pics, but it's in german,otherwise would paste a copy here...

Originally Posted by DrAndy

Originally Posted by tsicar

it is possible you will soon recieve a pm from someone who has a "wonderfull aquaculture setup" up and running , just needing major investment/partners to get it off the ground. for your own good, avoid this, since the fellow is a fraudster who has taken a good number of people for a massive ride and they have incurred major losses along the way.

interesting Tsico, tell us more, or maybe a new thread in "members"

sorry, no names, but very real threat.
just posted the info since the op looks like a good victim for unscrupulous fraudster who has in the past used both thaivisa and teakdoor to recruit investors in an aquaculture scam.

I actually PM the OP, don't think I am a crook, at least yet. Think I am one of the few that I know of who make their living farming in Thailand, but it is not an easy road. Jim.

Originally Posted by jamescollister

I actually PM the OP, don't think I am a crook, at least yet. Think I am one of the few that I know of who make their living farming in Thailand, but it is not an easy road. Jim.

so just what, and how do you farm, that would make it worthwhile investing in your operation?

Originally Posted by superman

Originally Posted by DrAndy

most people here who have a farm tend not to make any profit

I've been telling new farangs this for years but they carry on regardless, because they believe their teelak first and foremost. Not one, once they start farming, will admit they made a mistake. Or do they tell the truth and make money ?

I do not make any money from it; my wife does, but we aint getting rich from it.

Like the good doctor said...puts food on the table

Originally Posted by Carrabow

Originally Posted by superman

Originally Posted by DrAndy

most people here who have a farm tend not to make any profit

I've been telling new farangs this for years but they carry on regardless, because they believe their teelak first and foremost. Not one, once they start farming, will admit they made a mistake. Or do they tell the truth and make money ?

I do not make any money from it; my wife does, but we aint getting rich from it.

Like the good doctor said...puts food on the table

Some expats that are semi passive farmers may disagree that there is not a reasonably comfortable livelihood to be made farming, the lifestyle is what attracts a lot of people methinks...no you probably won't get rich if that is what your aim is but for many the richness is in the living.
Nothing nicer than directly or indirectly eating home grown.
Like Jim says, it ain't easy but worthwhile individual enterprises never are..take restaurants, bars, manufacturing ..anything..!
Beats wage slaving or corporate shite hands down..and mostly no fricking taxes!
Needs: A good partner, comfortable accommodation, good food, warmth and freedom ... pretty much it .....as against wants...(maybe add a full beer fridge)...

...right now it's getting light and the sun is poking through the mist across the valley and I want a beer!

Originally Posted by tsicar

Originally Posted by jamescollister

I actually PM the OP, don't think I am a crook, at least yet. Think I am one of the few that I know of who make their living farming in Thailand, but it is not an easy road. Jim.

so just what, and how do you farm, that would make it worthwhile investing in your operation?

Hi tsicar, I was not really unterested in the OP investing in what I do. He said he had some expertise in other fields and I am always on the look out for something new to try.
You can see what I do by googling my name with Thailand or Issan , rubber is the game and if you do it right, a good living can be made, I live here and have no outside income or savings, every cent I get come from rubber and we live OK. Not rich, but probably earn more expendable income here than when I worked for a living in OZ.

Originally Posted by DrAndy

most people here who have a farm tend not to make any profit but just do it because it is fun, and like the idea of growing their own produce

This is true, but one can sustain profitability in some situations.
Taking into account locale, marketability, business prowness, etc.

Originally Posted by jamescollister

Originally Posted by tsicar

Originally Posted by jamescollister

I actually PM the OP, don't think I am a crook, at least yet. Think I am one of the few that I know of who make their living farming in Thailand, but it is not an easy road. Jim.

so just what, and how do you farm, that would make it worthwhile investing in your operation?

Hi tsicar, I was not really unterested in the OP investing in what I do. He said he had some expertise in other fields and I am always on the look out for something new to try.
You can see what I do by googling my name with Thailand or Issan , rubber is the game and if you do it right, a good living can be made, I live here and have no outside income or savings, every cent I get come from rubber and we live OK. Not rich, but probably earn more expendable income here than when I worked for a living in OZ.

why i asked was because: although it is possible to make a reasonable living off the land in thailand if one applies oneself and keeps abreast of technology and farming methods (non-thai), it is unlikely that one would come up with something which would attract investors (after all, one would only invest in a venture if there was a probability that there would be a decent return on one's investment)

Originally Posted by tsicar

Originally Posted by jamescollister

Originally Posted by tsicar

Originally Posted by jamescollister

I actually PM the OP, don't think I am a crook, at least yet. Think I am one of the few that I know of who make their living farming in Thailand, but it is not an easy road. Jim.

so just what, and how do you farm, that would make it worthwhile investing in your operation?

Hi tsicar, I was not really unterested in the OP investing in what I do. He said he had some expertise in other fields and I am always on the look out for something new to try.
You can see what I do by googling my name with Thailand or Issan , rubber is the game and if you do it right, a good living can be made, I live here and have no outside income or savings, every cent I get come from rubber and we live OK. Not rich, but probably earn more expendable income here than when I worked for a living in OZ.

why i asked was because: although it is possible to make a reasonable living off the land in thailand if one applies oneself and keeps abreast of technology and farming methods (non-thai), it is unlikely that one would come up with something which would attract investors (after all, one would only invest in a venture if there was a probability that there would be a decent return on one's investment)

Trouble is most people think of farming, or anything else. Is they think Thailand is not part of the rest of the world. We live in a global economy and to open a pig farm, raise chikens, fish etc you still have to compete with player that invest millions, or you will be just a peasant farmer, making a Thai wage. There is no easy money to be made in Thailand or anywhere else in this world. If there was, it would be over run in no time.
I have a blog on how I ended up here. Issan Thailand Life Jim

Originally Posted by tsicar

Originally Posted by jamescollister

Originally Posted by tsicar

Originally Posted by jamescollister

I actually PM the OP, don't think I am a crook, at least yet. Think I am one of the few that I know of who make their living farming in Thailand, but it is not an easy road. Jim.

so just what, and how do you farm, that would make it worthwhile investing in your operation?

Hi tsicar, I was not really unterested in the OP investing in what I do. He said he had some expertise in other fields and I am always on the look out for something new to try.
You can see what I do by googling my name with Thailand or Issan , rubber is the game and if you do it right, a good living can be made, I live here and have no outside income or savings, every cent I get come from rubber and we live OK. Not rich, but probably earn more expendable income here than when I worked for a living in OZ.

why i asked was because: although it is possible to make a reasonable living off the land in thailand if one applies oneself and keeps abreast of technology and farming methods (non-thai), it is unlikely that one would come up with something which would attract investors (after all, one would only invest in a venture if there was a probability that there would be a decent return on one's investment)

I have found that on Thai forums there are all these no it alls that make bland statements like you can't do this or that & you can't make money in farming . Well in order to make money in any business it is comon sense that counts . Good returns from a business is anything above Bank interest rates.
I am new to farming in Thailand however after just 1 yr the farm will show a loss of 20k bt - 40k bt . That after paying for all land + planting ,fertilisers & labour.
Although I will get most of my investment back in the first year it will be used to re-invest in more land .
Nobody is going to get rich from a small amount of land so as in all business expansion is vital . To get a semi decent income 50k bt a wk 250 rai should do that although 250 of rubber would put you at the table with the hiso's if that is what you want.
I look to make a profit of 10k a rai although this yr could be better with the floods prices could go up . Maybe as much as to break even . We have been lucky in that we have no flooding & the crop is A1 so far .
I have found that most try to cut corners by cutting the fertiliser which brings down the yeald. Thais do it because by early Nov they just can't afford it due to any number of reasons . It is that last feed that decides if it will be a bumper crop or a small crop.
So I have found that it is a good earner if you are prepared to do it right .As to the OP has he been back here since he made the OP ?
It is always good to get investers in any business but in Thailand it is just so hard to give the security for the invester .

Originally Posted by DrAndy

most people here who have a farm tend not to make any profit but just do it because it is fun, and like the idea of growing their own produce

Ahem

...it's not unheard of.

Originally Posted by CaptainNemo

Originally Posted by DrAndy

most people here who have a farm tend not to make any profit but just do it because it is fun, and like the idea of growing their own produce

Ahem

...it's not unheard of.

no. not unheard of, but calculate the REAL costs and then work out the profit margin, then consider that one could lose a whole year's crop due to factors beyond your control (weather, disease, gluts in the market etc) and then farming in thailand does not seem like such a good idea, after all.
profit margins in thailand are low, and unless you have the money and the infrastructure to process and export the shit yourself, then you are at the mercy of the middlemen who don't have to take the risks, etc.
............come to think of it, if you had the money to do that, then it would be better to leave the farming part out altogether, and just become the middleman.

the very last thing i would do in thailand would be to invest in enough land to make the high-turnover-low-profit thing start to make the numbers look big enough to make the operation viable.

hobby-farming can be fun and even pay the monthly bills (did it myself and lived off it), but i would still say that investing in farming in thailand is a very bad choice.