Insight Focus
- In this series, we’re following farmers around the world.
- We’ll look at what they’re up to on the farm, hear their concerns, and celebrate their triumphs.
- Here’s the link to the farmer bios in case you missed them.
What Have You Been Up To, Chairat?
We’ve been busy harvesting our cane and are about 90% of the way there now. Aside from this, we’ve been focussing on weed management in the newly planted and ratoon cane fields.
What Stage is Your Crop At?
Well, we were hit by unseasonal rains in late February, so all our cane is developing well. Next season’s agricultural yields should be good because of this, provided the weather isn’t too unpredictable.
What’s Your Biggest Concern at Present?
It’s the dry season in Thailand and temperatures during the day are very hot, above 35°C in some areas. This means our labourers are unable to work from around midday into the late afternoon.
The hot weather is also causing issues with our harvesters, as the engines keep overheating. I’m therefore worried that I may not be able to deliver all my cane, because some mills have already closed.
Other Insights That May Be of Interest…
The World Needs More Sugar…Can Thailand Help?
Our Thai Road Trip: Cane, Cassava and Car Trouble
Our Thai Road Trip: Cane and Cassava in Close Competition
Our Thai Road Trip: The Future Looks Bright for the Cane Industry
Will Thailand’s Stricter Cane Burning Rules Hit Sugar Production?
