Thailand is a tropical country covering 51 million hectares, with a total agricultural area of 21 million hectares. The significance of field crops in Thailand can be shown in 3 different areas:

Planting area: According to the Center for Agricultural Information and the Office of Agricultural Economics, the total area of Thailand is 51,311,502 ha (320,696,888 rai). Of this area, 21,196,571 ha (132,478,570 rai) consists of farm holdings. Field crops account for 24 percent (5,121,789 ha, or 32,011,185 rai) of the farm holding land, second only to paddy land, which accounts for 51 percent.

Export value: The estimated value of agricultural exports in 1998 was 585,687 million baht (US$ 15,018 million). Of this amount, field crops accounted for 74,179 million baht ($1,902 million) or 12.7 percent. Field crop products include food crops, cassava derivatives, sugar and its derivatives, oil seeds, vegetable oils and fiber crops. Animal feeds, which use raw material from field crops, are not included in this figure.

Farmers' incomes: The total estimated value of the principle agricultural products in 1998 was about 552,751 million baht ($14,173 million). Of this amount, farmers who grew field crops received about 64,368 million baht ($1,650 million) or 11.6 percent of the total value.

Field crops make up a significant group among the major crops grown in Thailand, occupying about 24 percent of the farm holding land area and accounting for 12.7 percent of the total value of exported agricultural products and their derivatives. The growing of field crops contributes 11.6 percent to the total value of farm income.

Source: FAO (Food and agriculture organization of the united nations)

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