Thailand is the world’s 6th largest rice producer and largest
exporter. In recent years, annual paddy output has been approximately
30 Mt, with a third being exported. Rice is grown on some
10 million ha of land (or 20% of the country), with more than half
grown in the Northeastern region (Isaan), the poorest region of the
country. Approximately 9% of Thailand’s population still lives under
the poverty line; most of this population consists of subsistenceoriented,
seasonal rice growers in the Isaan who sell production
surplus and rely on multiple income sources for their livelihoods.
Also, increasing scarcity of farm labour afflicts the region (ADB,
2012).