"In the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread"
In the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread. That was true in the Netherlands and still is true for many people in Thailand. Even if it's not about bread, but about rice.
The Thai village economy in earlier times
Thai historiography is almost exclusively about the state, the rulers, the kings, their palaces and temples, and the wars they fought. The 'ordinary man and woman', the villagers, get off badly. An exception to this is an influential booklet from 1984, which portrays the history of the Thai village economy. In about 80 pages and without pompous academic jargon, Professor Chatthip Nartsupha takes us back in time.
Rituals around the first plowing of a rice field
Of course I don't have to tell you how important rice is for every Thai. Today, most of the work in the rice fields is done by machine, but here and there, especially with us in Isaan, it is still done, as in days gone by, with a deep, almost religious-like respect for the land and its products. And that in itself is not so strange.
'Light and dark, dark and light' a short story by Paisan Promoi
A story from the poor region of Thailand. The rice fails and workers are forced to seek happiness in Bangkok. And end up in misery.
Two weeks ago, riots broke out between demonstrators and security forces in Roi Et at a hearing on the planned construction of a sugar factory in the Pathum Rat district. The Banpong Sugar Company wants to build a sugar cane processing plant there with a target capacity of 24.000 tons of sugar cane per day.
Farmers receive monetary compensation for drought or flooding
The Thai government has begun paying 25 billion baht to farmers whose rice crops have been lost due to drought or floods. They receive 500 baht per rai. The Ministry of Agriculture has already determined who is eligible.
An Isan village life (3)
Many here are poor in money, but rich in land. Agricultural land that is, and therefore worth little, although they often build on it, especially if that piece of land is close to a
Farmers can get help from the Ministry of Commerce during the harvest months of November and December. By means of a subsidy from the ministry, harvesters can be rented at a reasonable price.
Isan experiences (10)
Once housed in Isaan, things happen that are sometimes less pleasant. Most of it has to do with the climate, even if you have already adapted by previously staying in Thailand in the holiday resorts or close to it. In the middle of Isan there is a tropical savannah climate. This results in more extreme phenomena than on the coasts. A real and long dry season, a much cooler period in winter, heavier short rain showers accompanied by thunderstorms and gusts of wind in summer. So a bit more of everything, including the flora and fauna.
Isaan economy
Poa Deing is in trouble. The schools have reopened and he and his wife are responsible for three grandchildren. Their son and his wife work in Bangkok. But things are not going as well economically as the newspapers make out, and too little money has been sent.
What is true? Here in the Netherlands, a star advertisement from the Plus supermarkets regularly passes by on TV, they claim that rice farmers in Thailand get a fair price for their rice.
Didn't I just read on Thailand blog that they get very little for their rice?
The size of the second rice harvest is too large, which means that there is a threat of a water shortage. This concerns 7,2 million rai that is now planted with rice, more than 4 million rai more than budgeted for in terms of irrigation.
Rice prices hit rock bottom: Farmers desperate!
The price that farmers now get for their paddy brown rice is only 5.000 baht per ton. The lowest price in 10 years. This is a heavy loss for a rice farmer because they lose about 8.000 to 9.000 baht in production costs.
Drought, rice farmers and debt in Isan
Many rice farmers in the debt-ridden Northeast are struggling to make ends meet after the government shut down irrigation systems. As a result, they have to miss out on the profit of a second rice crop. But for the military government, the drought could help with its economic strategy.
Drought in Thailand is costing the agricultural sector billions
Large parts of Thailand are suffering from a persistent drought. As a result, damage to the agricultural sector is expected to amount to 62 billion baht, especially if the drought lasts until June, says economist Witsanu of Kasetsart University. Farmers who plant rice in May for this crop year may lose their harvest if there is not enough rainfall.
Isaan: rice farmers and brooms (video)
In the video you can see how rice farmers in Isaan earn some money during the dry winter months by making brooms. In the Isan village of Ban Nong Pai Nua, brooms are made in no time with some nails, wire and homemade tools. A family of three people manages to make 100 brooms a day in this way.
Agricultural organizations have asked the government to do more for farmers who have been hit by the persistent drought in 31 provinces in Thailand.