AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION DEVELOPMENT IN THAILANDDEVELOPMENT IN THAILAND

Viboon Thepent Viboon Thepent Director Director

Postharvest Engineering Research GroupPostharvest Engineering Research GroupAGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH INSTITUTE (AERI)AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH INSTITUTE (AERI)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (DOA)DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (DOA)MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURAL AND COOPERATIVE (MOAC)MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURAL AND COOPERATIVE (MOAC)

THAILANDTHAILAND

June 2014June 2014

Thailand is an agricultural country Approximately 21 million ha or 40.9% of the total area is used for agricultural production.

Location: Thailand is l

ocated in the center of pen

insular Southeast Asia. Myanmar is to t

he west, Laos to the north and

east, Cambodia to the southeast, and Malaysia

to the south.

The south coast of Th ailand

faces the Gulf of Thailand.

Size Total of 514,000 s quare kilometers

(51.4 million ha)

--------------

Mean annual rainfall in Thailand from 1951 to 2011Mean annual rainfall in Thailand from 1951 to 2011

Total population in Thailand during the last 50 years.Total population in Thailand during the last 50 years.

Thailand is a newly industrialized country.Thailand is a newly industrialized country.Its economy is heavily export-dependentIts economy is heavily export-dependent , ,with exports accounting for more than two thirds of with exports accounting for more than two thirds of its GDP.its GDP.

In 2012, Thailand had a GDP of THB11.375 trillion In 2012, Thailand had a GDP of THB11.375 trillion (US$366 billion). Per-capita GDP was $5,390.(US$366 billion). Per-capita GDP was $5,390.Thailand's agricultural sector produces 8.4 Thailand's agricultural sector produces 8.4 percent of the GDP. The Thai economy grew by percent of the GDP. The Thai economy grew by 6.5 percent, inflation rate of 3.02 percent.6.5 percent, inflation rate of 3.02 percent.In 2013, GDP grew 2.7 percent.In 2013, GDP grew 2.7 percent.In 2014, the Thai economy is expected to grow In 2014, the Thai economy is expected to grow 2.9 percent.2.9 percent.

Major crops: Major crops: Rice, maize, sugarcane, Rice, maize, sugarcane, soybean, cassava, rubber, soybean, cassava, rubber, horticulture crops, oil palmhorticulture crops, oil palm

Major crops:

Crops Planting areaProduction

mil. ha mil. tons• Rice 9.5 20 • Maize 1.2 4.1 • Cassava 1 18

MECHANIZATIONMECHANIZATION

y = 13.462Ln(x) - 19.904

R2 = 0.9728

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

Energy input (PJ)

Pro

duct

ion

(106 to

ns )

2000

1960

1950

1970

1980 1990

2005

Relationship between energy input and crop Relationship between energy input and crop production in Thailand during 1950-2005production in Thailand during 1950-2005

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2005

Ene

rgy

inpu

ts (

PJ)

seed

Pesticides

Fertilizer

Mechanical

Draft animal

Ag. Labor

Contribution of different energy inputs in crop production in Thailand Contribution of different energy inputs in crop production in Thailand during during 1950-20051950-2005

Thailand has developed it's own range of agricultural machinery and agricultural equipment to suit the special needs and pockets of it's mainly agrarian population.

Rice production is the foremost user of these machineries.

Success stories in agricultural machinerySuccess stories in agricultural machinery

In 1964-1965, workshops around the Bangkok In 1964-1965, workshops around the Bangkok area began to modify the design of imported 2-area began to modify the design of imported 2-wheeled tractors by trial and error method. Only one wheeled tractors by trial and error method. Only one workshop succeeded in simplifying the gearbox and workshop succeeded in simplifying the gearbox and

other parts of the tractor to suite localother parts of the tractor to suite local paddy field paddy field conditions. In 1966, a few firms began producing 2-conditions. In 1966, a few firms began producing 2-wheeled tractors.wheeled tractors.

The lower price of these tractors relative to the The lower price of these tractors relative to the

imported tractors and their suitability toimported tractors and their suitability to local local conditions made them popular, and their adoption conditions made them popular, and their adoption spread to all parts of the Central plain.spread to all parts of the Central plain.

2000- Rotary cultivator2000- Rotary cultivator

In 1975, the Agricultural Engineering In 1975, the Agricultural Engineering Division constructed the prototype for an axial Division constructed the prototype for an axial flow rice thresher, which received its blueprint flow rice thresher, which received its blueprint from the International Rice Research Institute from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) , then released it to a selected firms in (IRRI) , then released it to a selected firms in Chachoengsao province for commercial Chachoengsao province for commercial production. production.

Later in 1975, a new blueprint was released Later in 1975, a new blueprint was released to three firms for commercial production, and to three firms for commercial production, and subsequently it was widely used and developed subsequently it was widely used and developed with very high successfully development.with very high successfully development.

At present, this machine has At present, this machine has still be popular used especially in still be popular used especially in the North and the North East the North and the North East regions while it was not used in regions while it was not used in the Central plain region because it the Central plain region because it was replaced by the using of Thai-was replaced by the using of Thai-made rice combine harvester.made rice combine harvester.

• During the previous Sixth Five – Year National Economic and Social Development Plan(1987-1991), the economic structure rapidly changed from agriculture to industry.

• Labor force from agricultural sector resulting in shortage of labor for some farming operations.

DEVELOPMENT OF DEVELOPMENT OF THAI RICE COMBINE HARVESTERTHAI RICE COMBINE HARVESTER

THAI RICE COMBINE HARVESTER THAI RICE COMBINE HARVESTER

Grain Tank typeGrain Tank type 1( ) 1( ) Undercarriage Undercarriage

(2 ) (2 ) Harvesting head hydraulic cylinder Harvesting head hydraulic cylinder

(3 ) (3 ) Hydraulic double pumps Hydraulic double pumps (4) Universal joint for hydraulic double (4) Universal joint for hydraulic double pumpspumps (5) Engine set(5) Engine set (6) Exhaust muffler(6) Exhaust muffler (7) Main engine idle set(7) Main engine idle set (8) Harvesting table unit(8) Harvesting table unit (9) Dust blower(9) Dust blower(10)(10) Chain conveyor unit Chain conveyor unit

11( ) 11( ) Threshing unit Threshing unit(12) Grain tank loading auger(12) Grain tank loading auger

13( ) 13( ) Grain tank Grain tank

14( )14( ) Swinging unloading conveyorSwinging unloading conveyor(15) Operator’s platform(15) Operator’s platform (16) Hydraulic oil cooler(16) Hydraulic oil cooler(17) Front head light(17) Front head light(18) Hydraulic oil tank for main (18) Hydraulic oil tank for main transmission transmission systemsystem(19) Hydraulic oil tank for unloading auger (19) Hydraulic oil tank for unloading auger and harvesting head and harvesting head

20( ) 20( ) Air filterAir filter

21( )21( ) Radiator Radiator(22) Fuel tank(22) Fuel tank(23) Battery (23) Battery (24) Reverse rotation gear box(24) Reverse rotation gear box(25) Plastic shelter(25) Plastic shelter(26) Belts guard(26) Belts guard

COMBINE HARVESTERCOMBINE HARVESTERWITH GRAIN TANKWITH GRAIN TANK

Maize combine harvesterMaize combine harvester

At the beginning of the introduction of the At the beginning of the introduction of the combine harvester, rice is harvested at relatively combine harvester, rice is harvested at relatively high moisture, sometimes as high as 28%.high moisture, sometimes as high as 28%.

Farmer do not have dryer, they sell paddy to Farmer do not have dryer, they sell paddy to the miller or the collector right away. The high the miller or the collector right away. The high moisture rice is immediately transported to the rice moisture rice is immediately transported to the rice mill or the local collector. mill or the local collector.

Most millers and collector at that time had Most millers and collector at that time had no mechanical dryer, drying the high moisture rice no mechanical dryer, drying the high moisture rice depend mostly on sun drying floor.depend mostly on sun drying floor.

Rolls of the Thai government

• Provide small dryers (30 tons/day) to Cooperatives and Farmers’ group in those areas (over 300 units existing).

• Provide soft loan to the millers and the paddy Central Market for dryers installation.

• Paddy mortgage plan.

Farmers’ Group and Cooperatives Dryers

FluidizedFluidized--Bed DryerBed Dryer

--Rapid dry high MC paddy to about 20%Rapid dry high MC paddy to about 20%--High heat and mass transfer ratesHigh heat and mass transfer rates between the air and the kernelbetween the air and the kernel--High specific energy consumptionHigh specific energy consumption

Cyclonic RiceCyclonic Rice--Husk FurnaceHusk Furnace

Development of agricultural machinery Development of agricultural machinery testing networks in Thailandtesting networks in ThailandThai Industrial Standard Institute (TISI), Thai Industrial Standard Institute (TISI), Ministry of Industry is responsible for Ministry of Industry is responsible for standardization of agricultural machinery. standardization of agricultural machinery. TISI was established in 1968. TISI was established in 1968.

The preparation of agricultural machinery The preparation of agricultural machinery standards is undertaken by the Technical standards is undertaken by the Technical Committee (TC). Committee (TC).

The TC includes representatives from The TC includes representatives from Agricultural Engineering Research Institute Agricultural Engineering Research Institute (AERI), manufacturers, the Bank of (AERI), manufacturers, the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), universities, etc. (BAAC), universities, etc.

Approved standards are published in the Approved standards are published in the government gazette.government gazette.

Agricultural machinery standards from Agricultural machinery standards from various countries have been studied and various countries have been studied and then adapted to be suitable with Thai then adapted to be suitable with Thai agricultural machines and there agricultural machines and there corresponding working conditions. corresponding working conditions. Research is required to get a basic data Research is required to get a basic data for developing standards. Safety standard for developing standards. Safety standard is one part of each agricultural machinery is one part of each agricultural machinery standard.standard.

Most of agricultural machinery Most of agricultural machinery standards are voluntary standards.standards are voluntary standards. Only small diesel engine standard is a Only small diesel engine standard is a mandatory one. mandatory one.

THANK YOUTHANK YOU