MAIZE LOWLAND
SARABURI, THAILAND
Our Maize Cluster Farm Group is from Hin-Son Sub-district, Kaeng Khoi District of Chumphon province, Thailand. The group has 98 members with total 4,800 rai (average 30 rai/farmer and 8 farmers have more than 100 rai). There are 10 members who can produce two crops/year due to installed dripping irrigation system. The cluster farm group has other channels of incomes from input supply, harvesting service commission and drone and machinery service fees.
CHALLENGES
-Low yields
-Land management after harvesting such as residues
-Rain shadow zone causes drought period
-No electricity for irrigation system (to pump water for usage)
-There are irrigation canals in the area but cannot be used due to the level of canal is lower than the fields.
SOLUTIONS NEEDED
1.Land management after harvesting
2.Yield improvement and increase of yields
3.Plowing techniques to manage corn stumps
4.Irrigation for drought period
5.Groundwater drilling
INNOVATION OPTIONS
1.Machines for land levelling, breaking soil compaction and mixing stumps into soil
2.Irrigation for production
3.Crop rotation
In discussion
1.Field maize processing ideas such as snacks, whiskey, chips or waffles