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According to the problems that occurs with Thai agriculture such as drought, the spread of pest and plant disease, flood, product quality, and the most important problem is the use of insecticide therefore, soil and ecology system are effected as well as danger to consumer and farmer themselves. Anyway, only a few problems have been solve because farmers lack to knowledge, budget and inspiration which is very regrettable. Nowadays, agricultural systems have been developed excessively as can be seen in some countries that used to import agriculture product to feed people in their country but now become a country that export agriculture product to other countries such as Israel. This is because they developed and established the good attitude toward agriculture pursuit for their children by using new agricultural technology and farm management including with government is support. Thailand, as a high potential country in develop agricultural industry to be the kitchen of the world, which is also one of the government policy, owing to the several factors such as geography and climate condition, the perseverance and persistence of farmers, and also because most of Thai population earn a living by farming. Accordingly, if all of these advantages can be continually supported with effective technology we believe that Thailand can soon become a major food supply in the world.
Concept
Bangsai Agricultural Center Co., Ltd., have been researched and developed the new practice of soilless culture for more than 6 years, until now the company are successful with a good reputation. Bangsai Agricultural Center have developed form of planting, type of plants, and planting equipment to fit with climate, consumer behavior, business worthwhile, consumer safety, and the essential part, technology. In addition, all equipment is domestically produced thus the investment capital is a lot cheaper and also can compete with other countries. With our system, all kind of vegetable can be easily grown under every condition of climates and locations with uncomplicated process and simple maintenance. Moreover, the products gained from our system are certain, 100 % non-toxicity, and more productive than foreign countries system. Present-day consumers are very concern about non-toxicity vegetable consumption because they all know that they can not avoid the toxicant by consume products from the conservative planting due to the spread and insecticide- resistance of pest. Accordingly, it is time to promote and support the new way of planting, which is uncomplicated and yield non-toxicity products. In order to catch up with the development of agricultural technology, we have researched and development the new practice of soilless culture, which we are now success with a good reputation in the area of new agricultural system. We are very please to introduce and distribute the new way of agricultural technology to Thai agriculture to gain the competency improvement and to meet with consumer demand and also to upgrade Thai farmer is knowledge for the progress of Thai Agriculture in the future.
After we studied, trained, and observed in many aspects we began an experiment of soilless culture by using material and equipments that available in the market such as PVC pipe, tile roofing, and general foam plant tray and used the domestic nutrient as much as it available together with imported nutrient. As the result after one year of trial was not satisfied us, therefore we did began another experiment by mixed the nutrient on our own and re-designed all of planting system along with solved problems we have faced. Accordingly, our planting system is excellent and suitable for various conditions all over the country, which have major impact on lower cost of fresh vegetable, and also produce high quality products. Because of high market demand, we have established the company to produce fresh vegetable and distribute planting system for both business and education by using 12 million baht capitals. We produce 1,000 kilograms of fresh vegetable per day (highest amount in Thailand) within area 9 rai and sell in front of our farm as well as to department store. By doing so, we receive a good outcome as great number of consumers interested in our products and we can sell vegetable plots to educational institutes and interested person who want to grow the plant for both consumption and hobby. Furthermore, many of the government sections have interested in visiting our farm and now we cooperate with Agricultural and Technology College, Department of Vocational Education in providing the training site to the bilateral program every year to establish a foundation of agricultural system. Therefore we can say that threw are still many of interested person and farmers to develop new technologies to upgrade the knowledge of Thai Agriculture to gain the ability of competitions and can be self dependent at last.
Cause and Alternative of Soilless Culture
As we interest in Thai Agricultural Development in regard to produce, method, distribution, production management and technology, we found that there are many incomplete matters need to be improved. For example, although great number of Chinese Kale have been produced every day with low selling price but a lot of Hong Kong Kale also imported to serve some group of people. Moreover, the use of fertilizer and insecticide in Thailand are higher than other countries while the production are less. Furthermore, our country can’t compete in the world market due to an ineffectively use of land and labor. However, these are so strange because Thailand have been an agricultural country for a long time but the expansion of development and supported technology still not yet reach farmer and production sector throughout the country because new agricultural knowledge often concentrate in educational institutes and government sectors. Even number of policies and plantly of budget had been allocated to agricultural sector each year but the results of such budget are what we have seen so far.
According to these problems I have experienced, I conceived the new idea that tried to grow the plants in many possible method by combined concept of production, marketing, management and technology with modern agriculture. As we started our study with market survey concerning with consumers, distribution channels, profit and treat of this market, we found that there are many opportunity to growth in these market.
Production Aspect
There are unsatisfactory outcome in many observations and seminars from both government and private sectors concerning about production circumstance in Thailand. That is to say, there are many problems and obstacles in regard to production including with natural effect like excessive or not enough of rain water level, product quality problem, labor, including with fertilizer and insecticide cost.
Technology Aspect
All technology using for modern agricultural in Thailand are currently from foreign country including equipment and essential nutrient that can only use for salad vegetable like Red Oak, Green Oak, Green Cos and Butter Head but can’t use for domestic vegetable. Accordingly, most of Thai consumers don’t favor hydroponics vegetable.
Concept and problems of commercial soilless culture.
We can say that commercial soilless culture is at the beginning state because only a few of grower who doing the serious business of soilless culture is exist. Although soilless culture have been in Thailand for more than 10 years but it doesn’t make a progress as much as it should be deal to the problems and the lack of knowledge and information in term of production, marketing, technology especially the lack of management. Therefor, anyone who wants to start soilless culture business should learn about its concept, principles and practical method. To success in this business producer need to understand importance factor of soilless culture such as equipment, nutrient, breed, and so on.
Problems of Soilless Culture in Thailand
Major problems of Soilless Culture can be concluded here:
1. Insufficient knowledge and learning source.
2. Lack of product understanding from market.
3. Lack of appropriated materials for the production.
4. Inappropriate climate condition.
5. Inadequate of serious supports from government.
6. Lack of knowledge and ability for suitable management
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These are major problems that involve with personnel matter because soilless culture have to deal with chemical fertilizer which means that grower have to learn about type, calculation, mix, and also control various amount of fertilizer. |
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Knowledge about plant, sprout raising, pest elimination, system maintenance, and harvest the product in accordance with consumer’s standard. |
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Basic mechanic knowledge regarding planting system, fertilization system, electric system and planting equipment. |
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Market knowledge such as decision making analysis on what type of plant should be grown, strategic setting, price setting, provide information to consumers and reach source of supplies. These works are challenge and elaborate, which growers need to be skillfully trained.
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