Rice is Thai major crop.

Rice "Oryza Sativa" is vital food crop of agricultural society in the world such as archeological evidences in Egypt on the Niles, Sumerian on the Tigris and the Euphrates, China on the Chang Jiang and the Huang He. It has infused the way of life, culture, and faith.

In Thailand, rice is the most vital crop of Thai people from the Royal to the layman. All peoples have rice ritual. There is Thai fairy tales called "Mae Pho Sop". Her symbol represents rice guardian.

Thai peoples (and the eastern) consume rice with other foods together like the western consume bread and butter.

Rice in Thai Economy

Rice is important commercial crop in Thailand. Rice is not only consuming domestically but also exporting out internationally. It ranks No.10 Thailand export products.

In 2002, Thailand produced rice about 17.125 million tons but exported about 7.245 million tons. The rest of them are domestically consumed. Thai people prefer rice to glutinous rice. The glutinous rice prefers limit to the Northeast area of Thailand. So it is cultivated in a small amount.

Rice Production

Most of rice production is in the central, northeast, and lower north area of Thailand. Thai farmers cultivate rice in rainy season because rice trunk needs abundant of water and moisture. Large amount of rice cultivation is one time a year (around at the end of May to the head of June - in rainy season) or "year-round rice" while, rice cultivation out of rainy season is more than one time a year up to irrigation system. The farmers harvest the year-round rice around November through February.

In the past, farmers select rice strain by themselves but the government currently instigates high yield rice strain to farmers. This may not be the best way for each farmer because he may own different production factors and he should know his limitation very well.

For farmer, rice cultivation before futures exchange was decided on last year price information, while, rice cultivation after futures exchange are different. Farmers will decide to cultivate on the price information from futures exchange.