Charoen Pokphand Group's Crop Integration Business has introduced a hybrid rice seed to ensure farmers are able to grow rice more efficiently, with yields reaching a maximum of 1,600 kg per rai, the highest ever.

"When farmers buy rice seeds, they have four criteria in mind: ability to grow three crops per year, yield of at least 1,000 kg per rai, insect-resistance (particularly brown plant hopping), and for rice mills to welcome their production," said Montri Congtrakultien, president of the Crop Integration Business.

Montri said the group's hybrid seed - named "CP 304" - is its latest successful cross-bred rice strain to be produced for commercial purposes. It was tried out for eight years to make the cultivation maturity.

It is very important for rice-producing and exporting countries to have high-quality rice seeds, particularly rice-growing countries in tropical areas infested with problems related to insects, diseases and drought. Production will be damaged by any of these factors, so they need special-quality rice seeds.

So far, total rice plantation in Thailand has reached 60 million rai, of which only 10 per cent is implemented with hybrid seeds. This should encourage more farmers to use cross-bred seeds.

The group targets to create a network of 300-500 farmers, covering 10,000 rai, who use hybrid seeds.

However, the promotion plan is focused on farmers in the Centre and irrigation areas. The most important factor is farmers themselves should become a new generation to employ innovative technology.

Montri added that farmers at Bang Len who tried to grow CP 304 were happy with the yield. After the harvest season last year, they enjoyed a profit of Bt9,289 per rai due to higher yield and the high rice price during that period.

However, the business group said its production capacity of such hybrid seeds cannot supply market demand now. It is expected that the capacity will reach 100 tonnes by the end of this year and 600 tonnes next year. The group also plans to achieve a capacity of 10,000 tonnes within the next 10 years.

So far, the group's plantation area for the hybrid seed has reached only 1,500 rai, located in the North, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Tak, and Uttaradit.

"As it is our starting point, we have to be more careful about standards. However, we can move rapidly after every process is under control," said Montri.

The total market demand for hybrid seeds in Thailand has reached about 90,000-100,000 tonnes per year, worth Bt8.96 billion.

Montri pointed out that farmers are reluctant to try the cross-bred seed due to its higher price compared to other standard seeds. For instance, the prices of standard seeds from the Rice Department have been quoted at between Bt30-Bt40 per kilogram compared with Bt120 for the hybrid strain. About 10 kg will have to be sown in every one rai of plantation.

"The difference in seed cost is covered by the increased yield of the hybrid rice," Montri said.
The group wants to bring down its production cost from Bt80-Bt100 to Bt60 per kilogram of seed.

Saifon Kamjadpai, 36, a farmer who has successfully tried out the CP 304 hybrid seed for two crops, said her profit had increased to more than Bt9,000 per tonne of rice due to the higher yield of the seed.

"My husband and I met with CP's rice researcher at Kamphaeng Phet to find out about the high-quality rice seed. Initially we retreated after learning the cost is quite high, at Bt120 per kilogramme. However, we decided to purchase 60 kg to try it out," said Saifon.

The couple allocated part of their 100-rai land to grow the hybrid seed. It has yielded a satisfying output of more than 1,600 kg per rai. Her farm has even attracted others in the neighbourhood to see and try it.
"My brother also planted the CP304 as his farm yield was low at 1,180 kg per rai," she said.

The hybrid seed has helped Saifon reduce her production cost, particularly expenditure on insecticides. As a result, more farmers around the area are planning to grow the hybrid seed for their next crop

Source: The Nation