BANGKOK (Commodity Online) : A nationwide rubber plantation project that would cover 800,000 rai (12,8000 ha) in Thailand is in the offing with Thailand Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva encouraging farmers to take part in the drive.
The planting mission makes economic sense as the government expects RSS3 grade rubber to move up to 200 baht ($6.45) a kilogramme, this year.
The project is expected to yield excess of 220,000 tons of natural rubber by 2017, a figure that would add to 3.11 million tons the country harvested last year. New planters (approx. 160,000 in numbers) would be initiated into the process and they would own between 2 rai (0.7 acres) and 15 rai (5.93 acres) of land.
The government kick-started the three year drive recently, that would enhance acreage of rubber plantations in the North of the country by 150,000 rai (24000 ha) and in the Northeast by 500,000 rai (80,000 hectares).
The rest of the acreage (150,000 rai or 24000 ha) would be spread across the East, central plains and the South of Thailand.
As per the project, government would provide low-priced rubber saplings, fertiliser and technical support for the first three years to planters.
By the time, planters are supposed to find provisions to bear the cost for the remaining crop cycle (year three and four) even as a state bank would provide them with low-interest loans to support the spending.
The government has also decided to extend the 8-billion-baht credit programme to farmers until March, 2012 as the allocation has been under utilized by farmers.
Prevailing high prices of rubber has ensured less instances of borrowing by farmers.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Thailand kick-starts 12,8000 ha rubber plantation project
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