Sugar Cane Production
There are approximately 107,000 small holders who grow sugarcane in Thailand. Mills do not grow their own cane, but contract from growers.Sugarcane farmers in the Northeast region generally plant their cane in October and November . While the sugarcane crop calendar varies by region, the growing period is about 10 to 14 months depending on the variety of cane. Farmers generally grow only one or two ratoon crops.
A Ratoon Crop is the new cane which grows from the stubble left behind are harvesting. This enables the farmers to get three or four crops from these before they have to replant. The reason why the cane does this is because sugarcane is a type of grass
Expansion of irrigation is especially important as more land is put into cane in the drought-prone Northeast-region.
Structurally the milling and refining sector is comprised of a mix of government, independent and private ownership groups. The State owns 3 mills, and there are 15 independent mills. There are 9 groups of owners which operate 2 or more mills. The largest is the Thai Roong Ruang Group which operates 7 mills.
Yields are currently averaging 11.456 Tonne/Rai but 15 metric tons per rai is possible given good soil conditions and irregation which are factors which effect your yield.
In 2010 prices were around 950baht a tonne – Which was a very high price.