The Rice Department wants to promote Thai rice with certified, geographical indication ( GI ) labels to a wider market in order to raise its profile on the global stage.
In addition to Phatthalung and Trang in the south, Phayao in the north, and many farming communities have succeeded in producing premium, special rice-based products that consumers are willing to pay more for. They claim that the desire is that they could concentrate on rice to one day make a sizable and sustainable income that would improve their quality of life.
Homegrown soldiers
Jaranjit Phengrat, an agrarian specialist at the Rice Department, said local corn cultivars are an important part of the strategy for the long-term growth of Thailand’s corn field.
” Native communities can take advantage of the variety of wheat in the country, by promoting the unique value of each strain, which should be accompanied by the promotion of agrotourism,” she said.
The southern regions of Phatthalung and Trang have a large variety of local corn genotypes, she said, including 182 short-grain corn and 14 sticky rice strains, many of which have been certified as Gastrointestinal products. The Khao Sang Yod from Phatthalung and the Khao Bao Yod Muang from Trang are two of the most well-known.
Ms. Jaranjit cited the Rice Department’s commitment to community organizations in the West by providing rice plants, habit quality checks, detailed information on packaging needs, as well as help in securing alternative distribution channels.
Kanokon Yaodam, chairman of the Rice Research Centre in Phatthalung, said the centre distributed about 18 tonnes of Sang Yod grain seeds last year and 23 tonnes this yr– a 20 % increase– due to increased demand. Some are grown organically around the Songkhla Lake basin to maintain high quality in accordance with good agricultural practices ( GAP ).
Southern confidence
One gardening group in the area is a fantastic example of how to produce superior natural Sang Yod grain. The company’s chairman, Wisoot Wiboonphan, said the neighborhood grows 970 ra of pure Sang Yod grain.
With an average yield of about 400 kilogrammes per ray, the wheat fetches 27, 000 baht per kilogram, significantly higher than conventionally grown corn, which sells around 14, 000 ringgit per kilogram on regular.
Ms. Kanokon reported that the Rice Research Centre has collected over 100 landrace rice strains for preservation and conservation from southern Thailand. In order to provide more seeds back to local farmers, the center planted some seeds in the center’s research area. Additionally, the center also sends some seeds to Denmark for the preservation of the rice genome and the rice bank in Pathum Thani.
She stated that the department will work to label more regional rice varieties as GI-certified. She cited Khao Hom Hua Bon as an example, claiming that the rice variety will soon be a GI Krabi product. She continued,” Khao Hom Hua Bon rice has a distinctive smell that resembles taro when cooked,” adding that it also contains a lot of antioxidants, particularly gamma oryzanol, which helps stop cells from deteriorating and cause cancer to develop.
” We have also discovered that landrace rice strains are resistant to the effects of climate change, which is a major factor in lower crop yields. In the future, as we adjust to the consequences of climate change, landrace rice will be essential for increasing food security”, Ms Kanokon said.
North follows
The North, too, has made significant progress in producing premium goods using local rice grown in mountainous regions.
In the Chun subdistrict of Phayao, one of the examples is a community-run rice farm.
Chunyanut Phrawisat, leader of the enterprise, said that last year, the enterprise produced 50 tonnes of jasmine rice, brown rice, red jasmine rice, black sticky rice, and riceberry, which helped generate substantial income for the community.
Owat Yinglap, director of the Rice Product Development Division, said rice produced in Phayao owes their quality to the province’s unique soil characteristics. Rich in volcanic minerals and nutrient-laden sediments from the Mae Ing River, the area’s soil is well-suited for growing a wide variety of rice cultivars, he said.
However, Mr Owat said farmers should n’t rest on their laurels and rely on the province’s natural bounty. He exhorted farmers to adopt novel concepts and technologies to improve their crops and add value to their goods.
Beyond grains
Numerous rice cultivars in the kingdom can still be improved for the benefit of the region’s farming communities.
For instance, Mr. Wisoot claimed that his Phatthalung community uses modern technology and methods to enhance the quality of their premium, organic rice by incorporating it into other goods that could be sold through non-traditional retail and wholesale channels.
Ms Jaranjit, from the Rice Department, said Sang Yod rice has also been developed into instant rice porridge, pizza dough, rice treats, shampoos, soaps, and other cosmetics.
Meanwhile, the La-san Samakkhi Rice Farmers Enterprise in Trang also produces rice milk, rice vermicelli flour, and cereal rice crackers using its organic GI-certified Khao Bao Yod Muang rice, which have been well-received by consumers. From various rice strains grown in the Chun subdistrict in Phayao, various premium snacks and healthy products, including crispy chocolate-coated puffed rice, rice crackers, whey protein rice and grains, and organic rice flour, have also been produced.