This is the month for Harvesting bamboo shoots to Eat. Tim has cut all ours and some of her friends which she has steamed and bagged for later use.
Bamboo Shoots
Bamboo Season
Andrew
Eddies Bar Relocating
Eddies Bar is relocating opposite the Hospital. Construction has already begun on the New premises which is due for completion in the new year.
Floods and Snakes
Out and about Today – For some reason there seem to be a lot of snakes about – All small – maybe its the time of the year that they breed . I don’t Know. I went past the new Temple they are building out on a lake at Ban Gluai.
Ban Gluai Temple
Further along The water levels continue to be High as shown by this restaurant underwater near Ban Daeng, Amphoe Phibunrak.
On the Way Back Approaching Ban Don Khi Lek the water was pouring over the road in several places sometimes over a foot deep. I just managed to ride through without having to get off and wade.
Flooded Road
Further on the road was totally churned up and I had to detour via Ban Chai to get home.
More Heavy Rains
Another night and day of Heavy rains. The ground is saturated everywhere and the soakways for the Bathrooms and kitchen are full to the brim. This is the wetest wet season we have had since I have lived here.
Shooting Season ?
Have just been for a ride to Sawang daen Din. I passed 6 people in one location spaced 100m apart with rifles. I passed a few more on my travels – obviously its a season for something what I don’t know.
Current Rubber Yields/Prices/Returns in Thailand.
I have been asked this question a few times lately so here are the latest figures. The Last year for which Production yields are available is 2010. These are :
North Thailand 229 Kg/rai
North East 250Kg/Rai
Central 274 kg/Rai
South 251kg/Rai
Therfore the Average is 253 Kg Rai ( which is Down 5% on 2009)
Current Commodity price 125 Bt Kilo for Cup Lump. This is not to be confused with Farm price i.e the price the producer gets at the farm Gate which is a mistake a lot of people make when doing the calculations . I have just inquired and it is currently 70Bt /Kilo for Cup lump – This changes on a day to day basis sometimes higher sometimes lower. Obviously the price will be higher for rubber sheets.
Therefore currently gross returns per Rai on average is 253 * 70 = 17,710 Bt Rai/Year
Assuming you make 50% profit after labour and Fertiliser costs are taken into account this gives a Net return of Approx 8,855 Bt rai/Year
** Yields for Udonthani were 273 Kg/rai in 2010 down from 319 kg/Rai in 2009. This is probably due to weather variations.
Heavy Rains
After weeks of Heavy Rain many places are flooded – on a Recent Bike ride I took this picture near Sang Khom. The water leverls are approx 30ft higher than normal with many Fields under water. The Locals make the most of it by fishing along the road where the water levels now reach up to.
Flooded Fields
The Skys continue to be Overcast with the prospect of more rain to come.
Overcast Sky
Start of Rubber production
After 7 years I have given the OK to open up some of the Trees on Plantations 1 and 2. This will offset the loss of production from selling plantation 3 earlier in the year.
Rubber being produced from New Tree