A pilot project was launched by the company on 7 rai of land in Kanchanaburi's Makhamtia district late last year.

The project helped selected farmers grow high-yield sugar cane as well as gave them room to grow short-life crops such as chillis.

Farmers involved in the project harvested their crops last week and found their yield had increased from 10 tonnes to 15 tonnes per rai. The farmers enjoyed increased incomes as a result.

The strategy is not only designed to assist poor farmers but also to en-sure the company has a good supply of sugar-cane-based raw materials when it becomes an ethanol-manu-

facturer sometime in the next three years. It is also aligned with the government's sufficiency economy policies and pursuit of alternative energy.

Thatsanchai Trisat, administrative director of the Wangkanai Group, said the company had supported farmers with good sugar-cane strains, technology and guaranteed purchase prices. He said the group would also teach farmers about the Israeli drip-irrigation system.

Last year the company donated 620 rai of land to Alro to allocate to poor farmers. However, the office gave part of the land back to the group to use for its pilot project.

"If Thailand can achieve sugar-

cane production of 80 million tonnes,

we need not import ethanol," said Thatanchai.

The Wangkanai Group has been granted a licence to produce ethanol and is currently negotiating with unnamed partners to establish a plant in Thailand.

"Investment in an ethanol plant has been delayed because we are waiting to see a clear direction in the government's energy policy. Moreover, [current] sugar-cane production in Thailand is not enough to supply ethanol manufacturing," he said

There is a strong possibility the company will build its first ethanol plant in Lop Buri, where its subsidiary TN Sugar Industry Co Ltd is located.

Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul

The Nation

Kanchanaburi