A BRlgg OOTLIliK OF EOaiOMt IN THg CENTRAL PIAIW RKGIOW OF THAILMO? AMD PHgTQEaBCRJ In this chapter, we outline the general fea­ tures of economy of the central plain region of Thai­ land. We also present sim ilar information of Phetchaburi province, which is also situated in this region. The focus w ill be on the study area and characteristics of farmers/ who are taken as sample farmers for investi­ g a t i o n . 3.1 THg CHiHAL PIAIH CTOIOW: 3.1.1 Location, Topograply and CliMte: The Central Plain Region is the largest paddy producing region particularly of non-glutinous rice in dry season. A double crop of paddy is always grown in this region. It surrounded by Nakhon Sawan, Phetchabun, Utai Thani a n d Tak provinces in North, Chaiyaphum, Buarirain ;^n d Nakhon Ratchasima provinces in the North- east, Myanmar in the West, and Cambodia to the East. Chumphqn province lies in the South and the Gulf of Thailand to the East, South, Southeast and Southwest. (See figure no. 3.1) Generally, the Central Plain Region i s characterised by low and flat topography. The lowest area is the middle part of the region. Some areas which are low lying are flooded by the Chao Phraya R i v e r every year in the rainy season. The region is situa;^ed o partly in the basin of the Chao Phraya River and Pasak River and their tributaries in the North and middle part, partly in the basin of Meklong and the Phetchaburi River on the West and the basin of the Bang Pakong on the east. Besides, the soil in this region is of heavy clay and some mediiom heavy to light alluvia. However, some parts of the West and the East are low and high hills and mountainous area. Some parts are near the sea in the South and Southeast of this region*; The average temperature is about' 28 C** and annual rain fkll is about 1/354 mm per annum. A s a result, it is a lush and fertile valley. It is the richest and most exten­ sive rice producing area* Bangkok, the capital of Thai­ land is located in this region. 3.1.2 Land Utilization: Agriculture plays an important role in the economy of this region. Soil or land is the most impor­ tant natural resource. The paddy crop is the main crop in this region. In table no. 3.1, we present land utilization statistics of the whole region. The total geographical area of this region is 10,390.1 thousand hectares or 20.24% of 51,311.50 thousand hectares of the whole country which was constant throughout the period of the study, but, the total farm holdings wajs fluctuating. It decreased from 4,629.6 thousand hect­ ares or 44.5% the total land in 1989 to 4,358.0 thou­ sand hectares or 41.9% in 1995. The land under forest during the above period was more or less constant. It decreased from 2,500.9 thousand hectares or 24% of total land in 1989 to 2, 387.9 thousand hectares or 22.9% in 1995. This is because the forest was destroyed and invaded for agricultural purposes. The area under housing was more or less con­ stant. It was 121.9 thousand hectares or 2.9% of total farm holdings in 1989 and 125.4 thousand hectares or 2.6% in 1995. The area of paddy cultivation decreased from 2,070.7 thousand hectares or 44.7% of total farm holdings in 1989 to 1,889.7 thousand hectares or 43.3% in 1995. The area under field crops also decreased from 1,516.8 thousand hectares or 32.7% in 1989 to 1,413.0 thousand or 32.1% in 1995. However, the area under fruits, trees and vegetables have gradually increased, it has increased from 701.3 thousand hectares or 15.1% of total farm holdings to 727.4 thousand hectares or 16.7% and the vegetable growing area has increased from 36.1 thousand hectares or 0.7% of total farm holdings to 48.5 thousand hectares or 1.1% in 1995. This is because the farmers have diversified to cash crops which get a higher benefits than other tradi­ tional crops. 3.1.3 Irrigation: There are two types of irrigation sources viz. agricultural wells and irrigation canals. The Central Plain is the best irrigated region of Thai­ land. Table no.3.2 indicates the area under net irri­ gation in the central plain of Thailand. The total farm holding area was more or less constant from 4, 629.6 thousand hectares {or 28,935.1 thousand rais) in 1989 to 4,407.7 thousand hectares (or 27,547.9 thousand rais). in 1993, and decreased to 4,358.0 thousand hect­ ares in 1995. However, the area under net irrigation in the region increased from 2,003.5 thousand hectares (or 12,522.2 thousand rais) in 1989 to 2,151.7 thousand hectares (or 13,448.2 thousand rais) in 1995. The per­ centage of net irrigated area to the total farm holding area for the region increased from 43.3% in 1989 to 50.29% in 1993. The increase in the percentage of net irrigation area to the total farm holdings area was mainly due to the completion of dikes and ditches projects of the Regional Irrigation Office in the Cen­ tral Plain and due to increasing the number of agricul­ tural wells, pumps and irrigation schemes during the above period. 3.1.4 Cropping Pattern: The cropping pattern of any region is the outcome of trial and adjustment depending on physical, sociological and economic features. In case of foodgrains, economic factors play an important role in determination of area under different competing cash crops. Table no.3.3, reveals the area under differ­ ent crops and their respective percentage are declin­ ing. It was 4,481.8 thousand hectares (or 28,011.4 thousand rais) in 1991-92, it decreased to 4,407.7 Figure no. 3.1 Location of Central Plain Region, Thailand N Phetc:lial>ii ri 1 1 NORTH-EASTERN NORTHERN CENTRAL PLAfN SOUTHERN T 3 <n * 8 C VO VO r- o^ in« CM• 0) C15 o> f— oo ro u m CM Pr ^ VO <0 c^ n ro ^ 4-> f»i m m CO cn CO ro U <I> ' d r CO CO ON r - CO m CO M •••« • • • o in r ~ p - CO r -« CO o r - oo GO VO VO VO r * o oo o o CM CO ON m 0 ) <i) «•• •• • # 4 J •n f-H m 1—H ON ON o •H VO c HH oo o o r - m in VO D CM OO fO o r - CO ON •«•• 9 • « CM in ON CM CM CM CM CM csj rH 0 ) *S <0 tr> l O ■u o> <1) M VO <Tt t-H ^ f-l oo r o vo iD tr> TT r VD CO CM m ON 00 ON <y» CM CM CO VO r * •H 0 0« VO• CM o > o § (T7 VO P - o «-H ^ <T» rn r H O r H V O CM 2 i n i n lO *sr ^ ^ ^ CO 0 ) 4 J o U •H <D 4 J % _ <T> V O ’c r o c ; # C • o VO o cr> O CM r*“ CO oo o o 8 9% ON oo 1 . pq i n CM CM CM M 4J Q<5 (UC *HOS ® s n ':CO a \ VO m Q - P 3 , H IQ »-« ro r- m in m . M + J m <:4 a 2:1 s::i 2 a o3 .^ 2 Mt Q® •H >, VO CM r - o o CO o 3 i •« • • CO M M <T> r ~ o rH CO oo 4 J CP -P ON CO CO oo i n 0) m m m m •iH (U 3 <0 U n . O 43 o o ^ Eh u* <D 5 O t » <j^ m o o crs (d • • • • (d o in O O fO r - >n ^ 'tH ' g o VO CO o ON CO m CO CO 5 o 4-1 ° * OS O T3 CM CM CM eg CM CM C m ■9E4 (d <d S S S S •H 4-) ro CO m ro ro m m fO o .C A-> Eh ^ o o ^ ^ o ^ 0 ) j C 0 ) Eh U • • u o «-i CM CO m O Qp O't 0^ 0^1 o*t o^ 9 4 J ^ ON ON ON ON ON o O CO z Tabl« no.3.2 Atm Otader Irrigation in thm Central Ragion of Thailand. ______ ^nit:'000 hecta£es)_ Year Total Farm Holding Net Irrigated Percentage Area Area (1) (2) (2/1) 1989 4,629,6 2,003.5 43.30 1990 4,597.2 2,034.2 44.26 1991 4,580.7 2,082.2 45.45 1992 4,481.8 2,104.5 47.00 1993 4,407.7 2,216.9 50.29 1994 4,383.8 2,139.9 48.80 1995 4,358.0 2,151.7 49.30 Source: Thailand, Royal Irrigation Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. Tabla no. 3.3 Cropping Patt^xn in Th« Central Plain. (Unit: '000 hectares) Year Particulars 1991-92 1995-96 Total farm holding land 4,481.8 4,407.6 (100.0 ) (100.0) Paddy - Wet season 1,633.9 1,562.0 (36.54) (35.43) - Dry season 429.6 600.3 ’(9.501 (13.62) Maize 343.0 325.4 (7.60) (7.38) Cassava 401.2 333.2 (8.90) (7.56) Sugarcane 548.5 458.9 (12.20) (10.41) Mungbean 57.2 41.8 (1.20) (0.95) Sorghum 87.9 59.7 (1.90) (1.35) Groundnut 17.2 13.1 (0.39) (0.29) Cotton 28.2 16.6 (0.12) (0.37) Kenaf 4.6 # 3.0 (0.10) (0.06) Pineapple 68.8 84.8 (1.59) (1.92) Fruit, Vegetable, Flower 750.28 773.0 (16.73) (17.53) Others 400.4 92.9 (8.93) (2.10) Source: Thailand, Office of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Statistics Of Thailand, Crop Year 1995-96.