Introduction
Sugarcane growing areas in Thailand
In the 2000/01 marketing year, total Thai
sugar production was around 49 million tons, down from 53.4
million tons in the previous year. However, the farm value
in 2000/01 was 24 million baht, an increase from 23.9 million
baht in the previous year.
Sugar production in Thailand was first established during
the Sukhothai era (A.D. 1257-1350). Production was gradually
expanded and finally shifted to a commercial scale. During
1930-1935, total sugar production in Thailand was merely 40,000
tons per year, and about 25,000 tons of sugar was imported
from Java, Indonesia. A new era began in 1937, when the first
modern sugar mill, with a milling capacity of 800 tons of
cane per day, was launched. Since then, sugar production has
increased as a consequence of growth, development and technology.
During 1998-2001, the average export of Thai sugar to foreign
markets was about 2 million tons. Sugar exports in 2001 were
2.2 million tons, compared with 1.4, 2 and 2.3 million tons
in 1998, 1999 and 2000, respectively.
Exports during 1960-1974 were less than
500,000 tons, and the industry managed to export over one
million tons for the first time in 1976.
Nowadays, there are approximately 107,000
small holders growing sugarcane in Thailand. Mills do not
grow cane themselves, but have contract farming with growers.
And in recent years, growth in sugar production has come largely
from area expansion in the North and Northeast of the country.
In the future, greater emphasis is expected to be given to
the introduction of higher-yielding varieties and the increased
use of yield-enhancing inputs.
The Thai sugar industry has done extremely
well in the past decade, thanks to high cane prices, greater
stability and confidence in the industry, successful government
initiatives in mill relocation and expansion and favorable
weather. Moreover, Thailand is presently one of the five largest
global sugar exporters, with relatively small internal needs
for sugar and low shipping costs, especially to growing regional
markets. The government policy of maintaining high domestic
sugar prices has supported increased production, dampened
growth in use and increased exportable surpluses.
Source: FAO (Food and agriculture organization
of the united nations)
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