Eucalyptus Farming

[Big Boy]

I've just read Kendo asking for more information on the following post. I'd also like to hear more. I've moved this discussion here to leave richard's thread alone.

One of the better one's to farm in Surin is eucalyptus for its oil and used for paper production in this part of Isaan fruit does not really grow hence why the majority still grow rice.

Kendo.

Good post Kendo and also introducing the thorny subject of eucalyptus. Its introduction in Isaan led to many protesters getting killed over the years, for objecting to the way land ownership was claimed and of course, what was planned. There is an ongoing debate about the environmental damage it causes....?

Another story.

[caller]

I should point out that I'm absolutely no expert!

Just what I have read in various articles and books. But the stuff originates from Oz and its suited to the environment there, but taking it to an another area and ripping up what was there and planting this stuff instead impacts on the soil and affects the water tables, so affecting, er, rice growing nearby!

But because its fast growing, invasive and profitable, I have read of the rich and powerful buying/taking land illegally, abusing their positions of power, with little being given in compensation and local protests being dealt with brutally.

Over to others who I am sure will know a lot more and can correct any errors on my part.

[Big Boy]

All that I know is that I was amazed when a huge area near my wife's village was a eucalyptus forest. I assumed it was natural to Thailand - I definitely didn't realise it was being deliberately being farmed. It always looked self sufficient to me. The paddy fields around the forest seemed to be functioning normally.

Well, I've learnt now that they were probably planted deliberately. I'd now be interested in the potential effects they'll have on the rice growing around the foest edges - maybe its just as well that we gave the farm to the rest of the family when we inherited it.

[caller]

BB, just google 'eucalyptus in thailand' and you will come across all sorts of articles about the issue, as ever in LOS, views are polarised!

[STEVE G]

There's none of it round our way, perhaps because of the low rainfall, but the Bangkok Post has an article about it:

ECO-FRIENDLY EUCALYPTUS?
http://www.bangkokpost.com/life/family/37978/

[deepee]

Be really careful with eucalupts as they can be very invasive species in new areas. Their litter will not break down well in the Thai environment and along with secretions from their root systems will poison your soils aganst competitor plants. They suck up lots of water too and will lower your water table and these two factors could set you up for problems with your neighbours.

http://bioenergy.ornl.gov/reports/euc-braz/eucal2a.html
http://library.kku.ac.th/abstract/thesi ... 0003e.html

[usual suspect]

There must be plenty of it grown in the East..when I sit next to the main road in Nong-Ki theres a constant stream of 'Double A's' paper trucks haulin logs towards Chock-Chai.
How long have the Thais been growing it in plantations? Lots of small woods around,maybe only last coupla years is it becoming an issue with farmers & water.
(Mrs U.S. says her land around N.Ki has not had nearly enuf rain this month compared to other years..??)

[STEVE G]

Our place is about 15km North of Nong Ki and there's none of it around us; the local farms are all rice, cassarva and sugar cane.
One farmer a few kilometers away grows a small area of thin trees that mainly get used locally for light construction that might be euchalyptus, but theres nothing else.
The local farmers struggle to grow anything that doesn't bring an income every year and I can't imagine that they could afford to wait for the trees to reach maturity.

[usual suspect]

Yeah,with you on that Steve...Double A must be dangling quite a large carrot then cos the trucks are non-stop. But there is,as you know so much land that maybe would not support rice,sugar or cassava,so them areas will be rented cheap & planted-up.
We have not got the rich 'red soil' for cassava,but are getting away with growing sugar on rice land,& when I met the 'Fields-man'/rep. for the sugar-company last year he told me "come on sir,rent more land,grow more sugar for us". It seems to be the rising 'cash-crop' in Issarn now...sugar-cane.

[STEVE G]

I don't know where that timber is coming from, but it wouldn't surprise me if much of it was coming over the border from Cambodia, either legally or otherwise.

[sandman67]

aha! Thanks guys....now I finally know why Mrs S owns a small plantation of eucalypts next door to her rice fields. I did ask but she wasnt able to explain what she (or the family) did with the trees.

Ive taken a walk thru it and it looks OK to me... less low lying vegitation than a rain forest/jungle but I didnts see any signs of soil degredation.

Amy says that wild mushrooms grow better in the plantation than in the real forest as well, so maybe another advantage there... Issaners love their shrooms and they are probably easier to find given the lack of ground covering ferns and stuff.

Its still an odd crop though

[kendo]

Steve they are very skinny trees the one's I have seen where about 2 metres high and the bark comes loose in big strips.
I could not remember the name but yes you will see loads of Double A paper company trucks around the Surin area some hauling the trees and some pulling semi trailers of finished products so I would guess there must be a paper mill close by.
Kendo.

[kendo]

This is a bigger deal than I thought just had a look at Double A's web site and in the last decade 1.5 million Thai farmers have grown 940 million trees as they are encoraged to earn extra cash from there spare land between the rice fields.
Double A also do the same thing in all the neighbouring countrys.
Kendo.

[STEVE G]

Yes, I'm sure that plenty of it is grown and I've seen those Double A trucks myself, it's just not grown where we are.
As I mentioned earlier, I don't think the local people have the capital to grow anything that doesn't bring in some money within a short period of time.

[usual suspect]

Sandman...have had a sly word with your Mrs...I've not to tell anyone but once your pole-like trees are cut down she says its to make a cage for you...to keep you under control...ha-ha!!