Agriculture adviser wants more focus on rice R&D
There should be greater focus and budget allocation for rice research and development, as it is the country's key export crop, the Chart Thai Pattana Party's chief adviser, Banharn Silpa-archa, said yesterday.
Banharn, who is also chief adviser to newly appointed Agriculture Minister Yukol Limlaemthong, however, declined to disclose the total budget that would be sought from the government for R&D.
He also warned that Thailand should closely monitor rice exports from Myanmar, which could overtake Thailand to become the top rice exporter because of its huge plantation area.
Myanmar was once the world’s biggest rice exporter but it lost the position because of internal turmoil. It is forecast that Myanmar’s rice exports would reach 1 million tonnes this year.
It also plans to catch up with Thailand’s export volume within 10 years.
In addition, Myanmar has also announced that it will tap more markets for rice exports.
“Myanmar's rice exports can achieve high growth if it is politically stable,” said Banharn, adding that the country still had huge and fertile plantation areas.
He added that Vietnam and China spent much more than Thailand on rice research and development.
Those two countries’ rice production is mainly aimed at serving domestic consumption. However, Vietnam’s rice-export volume is forecast to reach only 7 million tonnes this year because of limited growing area.
Banharn suggested that hybrid rice strains should be developed and certified to cash in on market demand, particularly the new hybrid seed named Kor Khor 49, which is scheduled to be certified by early next year, to generate high yield of 1,000 kilograms per rai (6,250kg per hectare). The new breed will also be distributed to farmers.
Thailand’s total demand for rice seeds has reached 600,000 tonnes a year, with the private sector distributing 400,000 tonnes and the Rice Department the rest.
Chairit Damrongkiat, director-general of the department, said Thailand had only 176 rice researchers but total demand was now 200 people.
They have to conduct research to achieve new rice breeds every two years.
The department, in cooperation with concerned rice sectors, is jointly conducting research and development of new hybrid rice breeds by considering more than 12,000 local rice breeds.
In addition, a new breed of jasmine rice is being developed, which is expected to be the best jasmine strain to come out in the next 10 years.
The department is also campaigning for farmers to reduce the number of rice breeds from 30-40 to 15-20 per rai. This is aimed at reducing the spread of insects and plant diseases, fertilisers and chemicals.
