Present Situation and its Future Potential of

Cassava Production and

Utilization in Thailand

Watana Watananonta

Senior Expert on Field Crops

Department of Agriculture

Cassava growing area:1. The eastern region2. The Northeast region3. The central region

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Figure 1. Cassava harvested area, production and yield in Thailand from 1961 to 2005.Source: FAOSTAT, 2006.

Figure 2. Quantities of cassava products exported from Thailand from 1966 to 2003 .

Source : Adapted from TTTA, 2004 ,

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Figure 2. Quantities of cassava products exported from Thailand from 19 to 2003 .

Source : Adapted from TTTA, 2004 ,

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Table 3 Cassava production costs (US$/ha) in Thailand in 1990/2000

Ave. Ave. all farmers advanced farmers

1. Labor cost ($/ha) 168.48 167.182. Other costs($/ha) 125.65 198.733. Total variable costs($/ha) 294.16 365.91

4. Total Production Costs 341.70 414.80

Yield (t/ha) 16.52 23.40Root price ($/t fresh roots) 21.62 21.62Gross income ($/ha) 357.16 505.91Net income ($/ha) 15.46 91.11Production costs 20.68 17.71($/t fresh roots)

1 US$ = 37 baht; cost of labor 120 baht/day Source: TTDI

Table 4. Estimated production and use of cassava roots in Thailand in 2003/04.

Fresh roots (‘000 t) Dry product (‘000 t) Total Export Domestic

Fresh root production 22,748 (100%) - - -

Chips 6,959 (30%) 3,132 2,470 (79%) 662 (21%) Pellets 5,811 (26%) 2,557 2,557 0 Starch 9,978 (44%) 2,744 1,630 (59%) 1,114 (41%) Source: based on data from TTTA, personal communication, 2004.

Table 5. Domestic use of cassava native starch in Thailand inTable 5. Domestic use of cassava native starch in Thailand in 2003. 2003.

Monosodium glutamateMonosodium glutamate 250.000 t250.000 t

SweetenersSweeteners 250.000 t250.000 t

Food industriesFood industries 200.000 t200.000 t

PaperPaper 120.000 t120.000 t

Modified starchModified starch 70.000 t70.000 t

SagoSago 60.000 t60.000 t

TextileTextile 10.000 t10.000 t

Others (glue, medicine etc.)Others (glue, medicine etc.) 20.000 t20.000 t

TotalTotal 980.000 t980.000 t

Local consumption

Growers

Starch factoriesSmall scale enterpreneur

Pellet companies(Pelletization)

Traders

Modification

Cassava roots

Cassava starchCassava chips

Export market

Export market

Modified starchPellets

Figure 3 Marketing structure of cassava in Thailand.

Local consumption

Local consumption

Figure 4. Monthly trend in the price of fresh cassava roots (at 30% starch content) in Nakhon Ratchasima province of Thailand form 1995 to 2003. Source: Thai Tapioca Trade Assoc. (TTTA), 2004.

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Figure 5 Monthly trend in the price (FOB Bangkok) of cassava starch and hard pellets from 1995 to 2003. Source: Thai Tapioca Trade Assoc. (TTTA), 2004.

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1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

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Table 6. Road map for production of cassava to satisfy both domestic and export requirements

for cassava chips, pellets, starch and ethanol on Thailand from 2004/05 to 2007/08.

Area Yield Production Utilization (mil. tones fresh root equivalent)

Year (mil.ha) (t/ha) (mil./ha) Chips Pellets Starch Ethanol

2004/05 0.99 17.1 16.9 6.59 1.01 9.30 0

-1.18 dom. -0 dom. -2.88 dom.

-5.41exp. -1.01 exp. -6.42 exp.

2005/06 1.04 18.2 18.9 6.34 1.06 10.86 0.64

-0.69 dom. -0 dom. -4.08 dom.

-5.65 exp. -1.06 exp. -6.78 exp.

2006/07 1.05 22.3 23..55 7.55 1.05 12.60 2.20

-1.19 dom. -0 dom. -5.06 dom.

-6.36 exp. -1.05 exp. -7.54 exp.

2007/08 1.05 26.2 27.5 8.26 1.04 13.50 4.70

-1.25 dom. -0 dom. -5.41 dom.

-7.01 exp. -1.04 exp. -8.09 exp.

Cassava Varietal ImprovementObjective:

- High root yield/ high starch yield in form of dry matter content

- Early harvesting- Adaptation for unfavorable condition- For human consumption- Resistance CBB, brown leaf spot, root rot, red mite and termite- Good plant type suitable for cultural

practice and harvesting

collection, introduction hybridization

seedling selection

clonal selection

preliminary yield trial

standard yield trial

regional yield trial

farmer’s field yield trial

farmer’s field test

variety recommendation

(seed) (seed)

Figure 1 Flow chart of cassava varietal improvement

(cuttings)

Table 7 Background and outstanding characteristics of 12 released cultivars in Thailand (including Rayong 1).CultivCultivarar

Year of Year of releaserelease

ParentsParents Background and Background and outstanding outstanding characteristicscharacteristics

RayonRayong 1g 1

19751975 UnknownUnknown Selected from a local land Selected from a local land race. Excellent agronomic race. Excellent agronomic triats. Relatively high yield, triats. Relatively high yield, low inputlow input

RayonRayong 3g 3

19831983 (F)MMex5(F)MMex555

(M)MVen3(M)MVen30707

Selected from CIAT F1 Selected from CIAT F1 hybrid seeds.hybrid seeds.

High dry matter contentHigh dry matter content

RayonRayong 2g 2

19841984 (F)MCol11(F)MCol1133

(M)MCol2(M)MCol222

Selected from CIAT F1 Selected from CIAT F1 hybrid seeds. hybrid seeds. Recommended for human Recommended for human consumptionconsumption

RayonRayong 60g 60

19871987 (F)MCol16(F)MCol168484

(M)Rayon(M)Rayong 1g 1

Selected from DOA F1 Selected from DOA F1 hybrid seeds. hybrid seeds. Recommended for early Recommended for early harvest, high yieldharvest, high yield

SrirachSriracha 1a 1

19911991 (F)MCol113(F)MCol113XMCol22XMCol22

(M)R1XMCol(M)R1XMCol2222

Selected from KU F1 hybrid Selected from KU F1 hybrid seeds. Excellent seeds. Excellent

Agronomic triats. HDMCAgronomic triats. HDMC

RayonRayong 90g 90

19911991 (F)CMC76(F)CMC76

(M)V43(M)V43Selected from DOA F1 Selected from DOA F1 hybrid seeds.hybrid seeds.

HDMC, High yieldHDMC, High yield

Table 7 Background and outstanding characteristics of 12 released cultivars in Thailand (including Rayong 1). (continous)CultivaCultivarr

Year of Year of releaserelease

ParentsParents Background and Background and outstanding outstanding characteristicscharacteristics

KasetsaKasetsart50rt50

19921992 (F)Rayong(F)Rayong11

(M)Rayon(M)Rayong90g90

Selected from KU F1 hybrid Selected from KU F1 hybrid seeds. High yield,seeds. High yield,

HDMC. Well adapted to HDMC. Well adapted to unflavorable condition.unflavorable condition.

Rayong Rayong 55

19941994 (F)MR27-(F)MR27-77-1077-10

(M)Rayon(M)Rayong3g3

Selected from DOA F1 Selected from DOA F1 hybrid seeds. High dry hybrid seeds. High dry matter content, high yieldmatter content, high yield

Rayong Rayong 7272

19991999 (F)Rayong(F)Rayong11

(M)Rayon(M)Rayong5g5

Selected from DOA F1 Selected from DOA F1 hybrid seeds. HDMC, high hybrid seeds. HDMC, high yield, good germination, yield, good germination, drought tolerantdrought tolerant

HuayboHuaybong 60ng 60

20022002 (F)Rayong(F)Rayong55

(M)KU50(M)KU50

Selected from KU F1 hybrid Selected from KU F1 hybrid seeds. High yield, HDMC,seeds. High yield, HDMC,

Rayong Rayong 77

20052005 (F)CMR30(F)CMR30-71-25-71-25(M)OMR29-(M)OMR29-20-11820-118

Selected from DOA F1 Selected from DOA F1 hybrid seeds. HDMC, high hybrid seeds. HDMC, high yield, suitable for late rainy yield, suitable for late rainy seasonseason

Rayong Rayong 99

20052005 (F)CMR31-(F)CMR31-19-23 19-23 (M)OMR29-(M)OMR29-20-11820-118

Selected from DOA F1 Selected from DOA F1 hybrid seeds.HDMC, High hybrid seeds.HDMC, High yield, suitable for ethanol yield, suitable for ethanol industry.industry.

Preserve as Preserve as In VitroIn Vitro at at Rayong Field Crops Research Rayong Field Crops Research CenterCenter

Cultural practices- Land preparation- Planting methods, spacing- Planting times and age

harvest- Weed control- Cassava stem storage- Fertilization and soil

conservation

Pest and diseases

Fortunately, Thailand has not experienced any serious pest and diseases infestation in cassava.

- Cassava bacteria blight (CBB)

- Cassava brown leaf spot, root rot

- Red mite, termite, white grub

Farmer participatory research and extension

(FPR & FPE)The use of FPR & FPE

showed that farmers become more aware of the importance of soil conservation. The most appropriate methods of soil erosion control were selected by farmers and tested their own fields to develop the most suitable practices for their own conditions. It was very effective in developing more suitable varieties and production practices which farmers could readily adopt and then disseminate to after farmers in neighboring communities.

Cassava leaves as animal feed

- Protein content 20 - 27%- Harvest every 2-3 months for

1 year could produce dry foliage varied from 4-12 t/ha

- Good profile of amino acid as compound with soybean meal and alfalfa hay

- Increase the milk thiocyanate content could enhance milk quality and milk storage

Vision and Development Strategy of Thai Cassava1. The whole of fresh root yield go to produce chips

and pellets of 50% and to produce starch of 50%2. To establish cluster of Thai cassava3. Government maintain the high price 1.50 baht/kg

of fresh root for farmers4. Remain farmers’ income oriented policy5. To change using high yield varieties 6. Short term target yield at 18.75 t/ha medium term

at 31 t/ha7. Starch export would continue to expand world

wide especially in Asia countries8. Ethanol production for domestic use