Small Farms of Bangkok

Near Bangkoks busy business districts and Bangkok Business Hotels, small farms produce vegetable for markets that are located in and around downtown Bangkok might have little more than half a hectare, whereas commercial rice farms outside the city average over ten hectares. The average commercial rice bolding on the central plain however, are typically over three hectares and all the available land is under cultivation. In the upland to the east of the plain, where maize is commercially grown, the typical farm size is close to 6.5 hectares. Cassava also grows in this area on a somewhat smaller farm, around five hectares. West of the plain, the uplands are committed in part to sugarcane on holdings usually about the size of 3 hectares. In the south, the rugged terrain made of about a quarter of the region is unsuitable for agriculture.

The climate of Bangkok, however, favors the cultivation of rubber trees and the majority of small farms grow rubber as a cash crop alongside subsistence of the rice crops. The type of agriculture engaged in by the small farm, whether a cash crop, subsistence, or a combination of the two vary from region to region. Most of the small farmers whose sole agriculture is the raising of such cash crops as maize, vegetables, fruits and sugarcane on the every disappearing farm land have sustained the local markets with fresh produce for centuries. And provided employment for the rural country folk in need of earning a livelihood, but only having farming skills, but who are also wanting to live a comfortable life in the big city. The small farms of Bangkok employ about one-eighth of the labor force. The small farm sector has provide an adequate amount of food for the rapidly growing population and has produced substantial produce surpluses to even export. The Bangkok’s farmer’s ability to adapt to changing market conditions has contributed to the country’s agriculture success and continue to flourish. A testimony to the David’s verses the Goliaths of agriculture.