Proceedings of the Fifth Asian Regional Maize Workshop - Search ...

Table 2. Quantity and value of Thailand's exports of canned baby corn, 1974-1992.
Year Amount (t) Value (m Baht)
1974 67.00 0.80
1976 234.50 3.60
1978 489.40 9.50
1980 916.50 21.40
1982 1,495.70 36.60
1984 4,468.30 101.10
1986 11,316.90 230.60
1988 25,615.90 489.90
1990 26,794.59 536.79
1992 36,761.19 826.12
SOurce: Dept. of Export Promotion, Ministry of Commerce.
Table 3.
Year
1988
1990
1992
Quantity and value of Thai fresh baby corn exports.
Amount (t)
2,220
1,787
1,891
1988-1991.
Value (m Baht)
38.6
43.5
47.7
SOUrce: Dept. of Business Economics, Ministry of Commerce.
The country's average area planted to corn has increased during the past four decades (Table
1); however, the average yield/rai of 317, 312 and 376 kg, respectively, for the past three
decades, are not satisfactory. The demand for good quality grain by the rapidly growing feed
industry has increased from 341,000 t in 1974, to 2,800,000 t in 1989 (Table 4). At present,
some of the corn planted area is being given over to other crops, e.g., sugarcane and cassava.
Chutkaew (1991) analyzed the supply of corn in Thailand and found that the amount of ·corn
supplied in the North, central and northeast regions will change in the same direction as there
is a change in corn price, amount of rainfall and time. Due to the excess of domestic demand
over the supply, in 1992 Thailand had to import nearly 500,000 t of corn grain from the People's
Republic of China.
Thus, there is an urgent need for research and development work on high yielding varieties,
especially hybrids with resistance to pests and broa9 adaptability. One possibility for such
varieties is planting them in paddy fields where irrigation is available (Chutkaew 1990, 1992).
In this case, breeders must identify superior germplasm sources that may be combined to produce
new higher yielding varieties, possess good agronomic characters and are stable in different
environments.
The successful utilization of improved maize germplasm in Thailand may be outlined as
follows (Chutkaew, 1989):
1. An open pollinated Guatemala variety (Tequisate Golden Yellow Flint) was introduced by
the Department of Agriculture (DCA) in 1951. Its yield potential and agronomic characters were
improved by maize breeders of the DCA, and a superior cultivar was then distributed to farmers as
the Phraphutthabat variety (PB). This variety was extensively used until 1972 when it was
replaced due to its susceptibility to downy mildew disease.
2. Thai DMR 6 was released in 1972.
3. Suwan 1 was released in 1976 (Chutkaew, 1982, 1986).
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