the Symposium on Wheats for More Tropical Environments - cimmyt

323fired oven has been used at oneupcountry site for two years. Ano<strong>the</strong>rbaker. who started 18 months ago inChiang Mai city, now expects topurchase some 5 tons of wheat from <strong>the</strong>coming season's crop. There have beeno<strong>the</strong>r off-shoots of this work which,though small, indicate <strong>the</strong> manner inwhich wheat can become integrated into<strong>the</strong> local economy. One man. forexample, has begun producing small tinovens for home baking to earnadditional income in his spare time.Thus, as well as <strong>the</strong> contribution it canmake to food production, wheat is likelyto increase job opportunities in ruralareas. Just how great will be <strong>the</strong>potential effect of wheat on <strong>the</strong> localeconomy, while very real. is difficult toestimate at this stage.The development of <strong>the</strong>se local marketswill allow time for an increase in <strong>the</strong>number of farmers with experience inwheat planting and production. Once<strong>the</strong> number of competent wheat farmershas reached a significant number (2000to 5(00), <strong>the</strong> wheat-growing areas canbe qUickly increased to supply <strong>the</strong> flourmills with a set quota. This is mostimportant, as it will give researchers <strong>the</strong>opportunity to study <strong>the</strong> problems ofproduction. storage. handling andquality, before being committed tosupplying <strong>the</strong> large flour mills inBangkok.For this reason, <strong>the</strong>re are plans withChiang Mai University and <strong>the</strong>Department of Agricultural Extension tolook at local markets at three sitesduring <strong>the</strong> coming year. One of <strong>the</strong>m isChiang Mai. <strong>the</strong> largest city in <strong>the</strong> north(population 100.(00) which already hasan annual demand for at least 10 to15 tons of whole meal flour; twoupcountry sites will also be included in<strong>the</strong> production areas. These localmarkets will also serve an extensionfunction. "as people begin to encounterwheat and realize that it has been grownin <strong>the</strong>ir own area.Substitution of Wheat ImportsThe local-use approach should functionin <strong>the</strong> plan for achieving crop importsubstitution for wheat through <strong>the</strong>follOWing three steps:• 1. Family use-Farmers fIrst plantwheat for home consumption (smallnumber of farmers, small-sized plotsof 1/5 to 2/5 hal• 2. Local market-Local markets aredeveloped, absorbing <strong>the</strong> increasingproduction (<strong>the</strong> number of farmersincreases. but plots remain small)• 3. Crop import substitution-Quotasfor domestic wheat at flour mills areset and, after a large enough numberof farmers are planting wheat, <strong>the</strong>areas planted by individual farmerscan be qUickly increasedSteps 1 and 2. which are already inprogress. will provide <strong>the</strong> experienceneeded to move to 8tep 3 withconfIdence. This move to step 3 willrequire <strong>the</strong> cooperation of farmers. flourmills and <strong>the</strong> Royal Thai Government.The New Role of Wheat inMore Tropical EnvironmentsWhile <strong>the</strong>re are many problemsconcerned with wheat production,storage and quality in nontraditionalwheat-growing countries, <strong>the</strong>re is alsogreat faith in <strong>the</strong>ir ability to solve <strong>the</strong>seproblems. The idea emphasized in thispaper is that <strong>the</strong> role of tropical wheatshould extend far beyond that ofjustsubstituting for imported wheat. Instead.it has <strong>the</strong> potential to increase <strong>the</strong>amount of basic food available. It canalso provide new job opportunities inrural areas, thus boosting localeconomies. The brief experience inThailand has shown that <strong>the</strong>re is littleproblem with <strong>the</strong> acceptance of wheat asa food. Therefore, <strong>the</strong>re is every reasonto believe that wheat can playa role indirectly helping to feed <strong>the</strong> people of <strong>the</strong>more tropical environments.