the Symposium on Wheats for More Tropical Environments - cimmyt

83Thailand Winter Cereals ProgramP. Chandhanamutta, Rice Research Institute, KasetsartUniversity, Bangkok, ThailandThailand is a tropical country. lyingbetween 5 and 21 0 N latitudes; it has atotal area of about 513.000 squarekilometers. Wheat production ispossible in <strong>the</strong> cooler area of nor<strong>the</strong>rnThailand. which lies above 18°N. Thisregion is a mass of mountains. withseveral rivers. and level areas along <strong>the</strong>larger rivers and streams. Total area oflowlands. uplands and highlands are0.9. 3.1 and 6.5 million hectares.respectively. The lowlands are about300 meters above sea level. rising to anaverage elevation in <strong>the</strong> mountains in<strong>the</strong> north of 1.600 meters. Meanminimum and maximum temperaturesfrom November to February (<strong>the</strong> wheatgrOWingseason) in <strong>the</strong> lowland area are13 and 28°C. respectively; meanrainfall during <strong>the</strong> same period is10 mm. Under <strong>the</strong>se conditions. wheathas a crop cycle of 100 to 120 days.Wheat ConsumptionThe current population of Thailand isabout 50 million. Rice is <strong>the</strong> staplecereal food. Per capita consumption ofrice in 1981 was 144 kg: that of wheatwas only 4.7 kg. Long-term prospectsfor growth in wheat consumption aretentatively placed at around 12%annually. Wheat grain and flourimports in 1981 amounted to some230.000 tons; about 85% of <strong>the</strong> importswas in wheat grain which went to fourflour mills in Bangkok. The mills arecurrently running below full capacity.PricingThailand imports most of its wheatfrom <strong>the</strong> United States. The CIFBangkok wheat price is US$ 200 perton or US$ 0.20 per kg. The Thaigovernment charges a tariff and o<strong>the</strong>rtaxes on wheat imports. estimated to beabout 40% of <strong>the</strong> CIF value. This puts<strong>the</strong> cost to <strong>the</strong> millers at approximatelyUS$ 0.28 per kg. Local wheat farmersexpect to get US$ 0.35 per kg as a farmgate price. Therefore. only throughgovernment protection and subsidy canlocal wheat be competitive withimported wheat. However. commercialwhite flour costs about US$ 0.60 per kgor more. It is conceivable that a marketfor a local flour would be an incentiveto farmers to grow wheat.Wheat UseWheat farmers in Thailand produceabout 160 tons of grain annually. andthis small amount is sufficient to makesome local food products. Enzymesfrom wheat sprouts are mixed withcooked glutinous (waxy) rice to makeliquid glucose. which is used in specialcandies. Cracked roasted wheat isfermented with soybean to prepare soysauce and miso. Steamed crackedwheat is used as a medium to cultureoyster mushroom spawn. The fourmodern flour mills produce a variety ofhigh-quality flours and semolina. whichare used to make bread. cakes. pastries.biscuits and noodles. as well as someThai and Chinese foods.Wheat MarketingWith <strong>the</strong> limited local wheatproduction. a direct trade betweenfarmers and food processors is generallypracticed. If <strong>the</strong> volume of trade isexpanded. <strong>the</strong> private merchants thatcurrently market rice and o<strong>the</strong>r fieldcrops would take wheat as a newcommodity. However. this middlemanin <strong>the</strong> rice marketing system is reapinga very high profit. Therefore. wheatmarketing might bypass thismiddleman. It is suggested here thatwheat production should beincorporated into various rural