Questions asked on the "TUNG"
Like many, we have looked into the different plants before settling on our quest.
All three plants are different: -
The palm takes 30 months to grow but how much fruit each plant will produce will depend on the soil it is grown in as it needs A LOT of water and rain during the year in the area you intend to grow the Palm in or you will be wasting your time and money without getting much return. I have seen people growing Palm and they do not bear fruit. The fruit of the palm will have a short span of time after it is harvested so you will need get it to the factory within a specific period. A certain amount of care and fertilizer is also needed during their growth. (Sorry I don't have the numbers on hand since our study some years ago).
Rubber trees need 7 years before the plant will produce latex. During this period, the rubber tree will need around 1,300Baht worth of fertilizer twice a year not to mention the cost of manpower thereafter for daily collection of latex. Our next door neighbour is growning Rubber trees so we have up todate facts.
The "Tung" does well in a natural environment, even in red clay (as in one of our farms. I have posted some pictures on Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket if you would like to take a look). They do not like to have their roots soaked in water. Planted in larger land areas, they only need to be watered every 2-3 days in the dryer season. We recommend natural fertilizer,i.e. cow dun, where they are easily obtainable. They will start bearing fruits from their 3rd year onwards and by their 5th year they should give you about at least 100 kgs considering soil condition and fair care be given. Fully grown, their height can be more than 20 meters and the trees have been known to be used for building of houses and furniture. They are termite resistant, so almost every part of their tree can be used in the long term.
In summery, the "Tung" is the easiest and cheapest plant to grow whose seeds can produce a number of products as well as one which has export potential.
Another factor we have considered is - the leaves of the "Tung" can be 8-10 inches in diameter, which helps in the production of oxygen therefore helps in the Global Warming and Climate Change. It is with this in mind that we hope to spread the word to start "THE GREEN PROJECT".
Do let us know if you have any other questions so that we can answer them.
Cheers!
THORZEN