Wanlop Prechamart. Agricultural production planning : case study durian extension area, Chanthaburi province . Master's Degree(Technology of Environmental Management). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2004.
Agricultural production planning : case study durian extension area, Chanthaburi province
Abstract:
The objectives of this study were: 1) to study the physical characteristics of
durian plantations in Chanthaburi province, 2) to classify the land suitability area for
durian plantation and 3) to analyse the financial benefit and cost of durian production
under monocropped and intercropped systems.
According to the classification of land suitability for durian plantation, the
highly potentially suitable area covered approximately 25,580 rai. The moderately
potentially suitable area was 385,953 rai. The low and non-potentially suitable areas
were 150,242 and 3,399,476 rai, respectively. The results indicated that only 411,533
rai or 10.39% of the total provincial area should be promoted for durian plantation.
However, the durian planted areas in 2002 were found in the low, non-suitable and buffer
areas more than in the suitable areas. A total of 214,322 rai or 82.33% of the total durian
planted area was found in the non-suitable area. Only 46,015 rai or 17.67% of durian
planted area in 2002 were in suitable area. This result indicated that most of the area of
durian plantation in Chanthaburi province was in the non-suitable area.
The results of financial benefit and cost analysis of 2 durian production
systems in terms of net present value, benefit and cost ratio, and internal rate of
return, durian monocropping and durian-mangosteen intercropping were worthwhile
for investment. The only exception was that durian monocropping in the non-suitable
areas was not worthwhile because the net present value would be minus. Comparing
the NPV, BCR, and IRR at equal discount rates of 10%, the benefit from
intercropping was much higher than from monocropping.
Since durian-mangosteen intercropping provided higher benefit than durian
monocropping, investment on mixed orchards should be promoted in order to enhance
the farmers’ income. Many countries have established a standard of agricultural
products which directly affects Thai agricultural products. The decrease of chemical
use in agriculture under Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) will help farmers to
decrease their production costs and increase the quality of products, and thus to be
able to compete in the international market.