In Thailand, the rice establishment method has shifted from transplanting to direct seeding in response to labor scarcity. Using survey data from Khon Kaen, this paper examines patterns of the shift in crop establishment methods, factors influencing the choice of crop establishment method, and the impact of such a shift on rice production and productivity. Results show that biophysical factors such as weed incidence, rainfall pattern, sufficiency of water supply, field elevation, and hydrology are the major determinants of farmers’ choice of crop establishment method. In addition, wage rates, availability of family labor, and power for land preparation were found to be the major economic factors influencing the choice of crop establishment method. Although rice yields were similar for wet seeding and transplanting, dry seeding resulted in a significantly lower yield. As dry seeding is practiced mainly in upper fields with lower productive capacity, rice production in these fields would not have been economically viable had farmers not used this labor-saving method. A lower technical efficiency associated with dry seeding relative to other methods indicates that potential exists for improving the dry-seeding method through better technology. Implications for developing technologies for land preparation, weed management, developing new varieties, and other aspects of rice production are derived.

Text in English

0308|AL-Wheat Program

CIMMYT Staff Publications Collection