1. Present Situation and its Future Potential of Cassava Production and Utilization in Thailand
Watana Watananonta
Senior Expert on Field Crops
Department of Agriculture

2. Cassava growing area: 1. The eastern region 2. The Northeast region
3. The central region

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

4. Figure 2 .
Quantities of cassava products exported from Thailand from
1966 to
2003
Source :
Adapted from TTTA,
2004 ,
Cassava products exported (
million tonnes ) 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 00 03 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Starch
Pellets +
Chips
Year 19

5. Table 3 Cassava production costs (US$/ha) in Thailand in 1990/2000
Ave. Ave.
all farmers advanced farmers
1. Labor cost ($/ha)
2. Other costs($/ha)
3. Total variable costs($/ha)
4. Total Production Costs
Yield (t/ha)
Root price ($/t fresh roots)
Gross income ($/ha)
Net income ($/ha)
Production costs
($/t fresh roots)
1 US$ = 37 baht; cost of labor 120 baht/day Source: TTDI

7. Table 5. Domestic use of cassava native starch in Thailand in 2003.
Monosodium glutamate t
Sweeteners
Food industries t
Paper t
Modified starch t
Sago t
Textile t
Others (glue, medicine etc.) t
Total t

8. Figure 3 Marketing structure of cassava in Thailand.
Growers
Cassava roots
Small scale enterpreneur
Starch factories
Cassava chips
Cassava starch
Local consumption
Pellet companies
Local consumption
Modification
(Pelletization)
Modified starch
Pellets
Traders
Export market
Local consumption
Export market
Figure 3 Marketing structure of cassava in Thailand.

9. Ratchasima province of Thailand form 1995 to 2003.
2500
2500
2000
2000
1500
1500
Cassava fresh root price (baht/tonne)
1000
1000
500
500 J M M J S N J M M J S N J M M J S N J M M J S N J M M J S N J M M J S N J M M J S N J M M J S N J M M J S N
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
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.

10. Source: Thai Tapioca Trade Assoc. (TTTA), 2004.
500
500
400
400
300
300
Starch and hard pellet price (US$ tonne)
200
Starch
200
100
Hard pellets
100 J M M J S N J M M J S N J M M J S N J M M J S N J M M J S N J M M J S N J M M J S N J M M J S N J M M J S N
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
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.

11. 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/
-1.18 dom dom dom.
-5.41exp exp exp.
2005/
-0.69 dom dom dom.
-5.65 exp exp exp.
2006/
-1.19 dom dom dom.
-6.36 exp exp exp.
2007/
-1.25 dom dom dom.
-7.01 exp exp exp.

12. Cassava Varietal Improvement Objective:
- 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

13. (cuttings) hybridization
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)
Figure 1 Flow chart of cassava varietal improvement
(cuttings)

14. Thailand (including Rayong 1).
Table 7 Background and outstanding characteristics of 12 released cultivars in
Thailand (including Rayong 1).
Cultivar
Year of release
Parents
Background and outstanding characteristics
Rayong 1
1975
Unknown
Selected from a local land race. Excellent agronomic triats. Relatively high yield, low input
Rayong 3
1983
(F)MMex55
(M)MVen307
Selected from CIAT F1 hybrid seeds.
High dry matter content
Rayong 2
1984
(F)MCol113
(M)MCol22
Selected from CIAT F1 hybrid seeds. Recommended for human consumption
Rayong 60
1987
(F)MCol1684
(M)Rayong 1
Selected from DOA F1 hybrid seeds. Recommended for early harvest, high yield
Sriracha 1
1991
(F)MCol113XMCol22
(M)R1XMCol22
Selected from KU F1 hybrid seeds. Excellent
Agronomic triats. HDMC
Rayong 90
(F)CMC76
(M)V43
Selected from DOA F1 hybrid seeds.
HDMC, High yield

15. Thailand (including Rayong 1). (continous)
Table 7 Background and outstanding characteristics of 12 released cultivars in
Thailand (including Rayong 1). (continous)
Cultivar
Year of release
Parents
Background and outstanding characteristics
Kasetsart50
1992
(F)Rayong1
(M)Rayong90
Selected from KU F1 hybrid seeds. High yield,
HDMC. Well adapted to unflavorable condition.
Rayong 5
1994
(F)MR
(M)Rayong3
Selected from DOA F1 hybrid seeds. High dry matter content, high yield
Rayong 72
1999
(M)Rayong5
Selected from DOA F1 hybrid seeds. HDMC, high yield, good germination, drought tolerant
Huaybong 60
2002
(F)Rayong5
(M)KU50
Selected from KU F1 hybrid seeds. High yield, HDMC,
Rayong 7
2005
(F)CMR
(M)OMR
Selected from DOA F1 hybrid seeds. HDMC, high yield, suitable for late rainy season
Rayong 9
(F)CMR (M)OMR
Selected from DOA F1 hybrid seeds.HDMC, High yield, suitable for ethanol industry.

16. Cassava Core Collection from CIAT Preserve as In Vitro at
Rayong Field Crops Research Center

17. Cultural practices - Planting methods, spacing
- Land preparation
- Planting methods, spacing
- Planting times and age
harvest
- Weed control
- Cassava stem storage
- Fertilization and soil
conservation

18. - Cassava bacteria blight (CBB) - Cassava brown leaf spot, root rot
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

19. 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.

20. Cassava leaves as animal feed
- Protein content %
- 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

21. Vision and Development Strategy of Thai Cassava
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 cassava
Government maintain the high price 1.50 baht/kg of fresh root for farmers
Remain farmers’ income oriented policy
To change using high yield varieties
Short term target yield at t/ha medium term at 31 t/ha
Starch export would continue to expand world wide especially in Asia countries
8. Ethanol production for domestic use