Sweetcorn setback, cassava climbs in Paklai
Sweetcorn setback, cassava climbs in Paklai
Agricultural exports from Xayaboury province's Paklai district are proving to be a mixed bag, with shipments of sweet corn steady and consignments of cassava powder increasing on last year's totals.
Paklai District Governor Mr Bouaphan Makkhaphon told Vientiane Times that export figures for sweet corn would close the year the same as last at 130,000 tonnes after a strong start came adrift.
The lower than expected result was down to the Thai government revamping its policy on sweet corn imports mid-year, effectively reducing the total to 200 tonnes a week, he said.
This compared to the previous unlimited import allowance enjoyed between the months of March and June.
Each year the province exports 60-70 percent of its total production to Thailand, with the remainder exported to China or supplied to the domestic market.
Mr Khamxay said that despite the number of farmers growing the crop having decreased, prices had remained stable at about 800-1,000 kip a kg from the farm gate and more than 2,000 kip per kg for export.
During the first six months of this year producers in the country earned about US$35.5 million from their sweetcorn exports, making the crop the nation's second highest agricultural export earner after rubber, according to the Agriculture Department .
However, the district has set a strategic plan in place to help farmers seek new markets and increase their consignments to China and the capital.
Meanwhile, over the past two years a number of factories have been set up in Paklai to produce cassava powder to export to the Chinese market.
The district has seen exports of cassava powder increase steadily since.
Mr Khamxay said many local farmers had converted their land to plant cassava as a market adjustment strategy.
At present, farmers have planted cassava on 4-5 hectares to supply the factories, allowing the district to increase exports to a total of 30,000 tonnes of powder per year to the Chinese market.
Sweet corn and cassava are key cash crops that allow local farmers' income to improve and drive the district's economic expansion.
Paklai's economy is expected to grow 11 percent this year, with local per capita incomes set to exceed 14 million kip (US$ 1,872) despite the sweet corn setbacks.
