Thai rice farmers must constantly improve their crop quality and productivity to survive increased cross-border competition following implementation of the Asean Free-Trade Agreement.
However, farmers themselves say seed quality, water supplies, irrigation systems and middleman traders are important factors in considering whether the country's competitiveness as a rice producer will survive.
On January 1, rice-trading conditions in the Asean region changed forever with implementation of AFTA. Thailand eliminated its import duty on rice as part of its commitment to the AFTA programme.
Lop Buri farmer Somnuek Choosri, 65, said free trade in commodity goods had created both positive and negative effects.
The pressures of the new system will encourage Thai farmers to develop rice strains continually, in order to ensure both quality and high yield. If they fail in this, they will lose competitiveness to rivals through lower production, he said.
Somnuek grows rice on more than 100 rai and must invest considerable care in his crops to ensure returns.
"I have a little knowledge about AFTA's zero tariffs, and I'm not confident the FTAs will create any changes for farmers in the long run," he said.
Farmers learn to grow rice varieties that generate high income for them, such as that called Pathum Thani. This fragrant rice qualifies for the government's income-guarantee scheme.
At present, growing second-crop rice in the central region costs Bt3,000 to Bt5,000 pear rai, and the grain from 1 rai of rice can be sold for an average of Bt10,000. For an equal investment, main-crop rice, with a growing period coinciding with the rainy season, generates a lower income of Bt7,000 a rai, due to lower yield.
"The most important factor in rice farming in Thailand is not whether there is free trade, but whether there is a water supply," Somnuek said.
Farmers who plant outside irrigated areas face trouble. They must shoulder higher costs, to ensure water supplies throughout the cropping season. Good production also means good quality, as well as good rice seed for their next crop, he said.
Suphan Buri farmer Tossapol Yim-yuan, 45, said he did not know much detail about AFTA or what Thai farmers should do.
"There have been no officials from relevant government agencies to promote the benefits of AFTA to farmers," Tossapol said. "With or without AFTA, the important practise that still affects rice farmers is that of middleman traders. They still take advantage of farmers by controlling the market mechanism and related businesses."
Ratchaburi farmer Valit Charoensombat, 51, said he had learned the details of free trade in farm goods from many government agencies. Farming 80 rai, he is concerned about conveying his heritage to the next generation.
"I personally disagree with the government's obligation to commit to free trade in the farming sector - rice in particular, because it's a sensitive product," he said.
Valit said AFTA would encourage rice millers to establish more rice mills along the country's borders. In addition, many trading tactics will be launched to pressure domestic rice prices.
"Thai rice is of higher quality than that in neighbouring countries, so it should command higher prices. But if we allow rice from those other countries into Thailand, it will directly affect the quality of Thai rice," he said, lamenting that Thai farmers were poor people for whom some government welfare had already been cut.
Valit said farmers were unable to receive high rice prices equal to those fixed by the government's income-guarantee programme, because of the many conditions.
"Rice farming in Thailand will assume the form of capitalism in the future, because the real farmers will become only slaves to investors," he said.
Thai farmers should learn more about market mechanisms and processing systems, in order to allow them to sell their own production.
"I don't know who will lose or who will gain. The fact is Thai farmers are experiencing very difficult times. I want to urge all farmers to raise their voices against the government to stop the free-trade system and protect the Kingdom's benefits," Valit said.
