Thai farmers are flocking to plant Vietnamese rice.

According to the Bangkok PostThai rice exporters warn that local rice varieties are at risk of extinction as farmers rush to plant a popular Vietnamese rice variety.

Charoen Laothamatas, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, believes the local industry is in a precarious situation, as production of Thai rice varieties such as Pathum Thani fragrant rice and KB 79 rice is declining, being replaced by Vietnamese varieties known as Khao Hom Phuang or Jasmine 85, which yield high production in a short growing season.

"Up to 80% of packaged rice sold in Thailand is Khao Hom Phuang rice from Vietnam, causing Pathum Thani fragrant rice to almost disappear from the market. This is because Pathum Thani rice has a higher yield of 1.200-1.500 kg/rai (1 rai is equivalent to 1.600 m2), a shorter harvest time of only 90-100 days, and can be grown year-round. Pathum Thani fragrant rice yields 800-900 kg/rai, has a harvest time of 4 months, and can only be grown once a year." Mr. Charoen said.

According to the president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, Thai farmers may plant less Hom Mali rice (a jasmine-colored rice variety) and replace it with another white rice variety because it can be grown twice a year and yields more.

"Thailand does not produce enough rice to meet the needs of farmers and the preferences of consumers. This forces them to seek foreign rice varieties, especially those from Vietnam and China, which continuously support R&D (research and development) activities." Mr. Charoen commented.

He urged Thailand's rice authority to accelerate the development of new rice varieties through R&D, increasing yields per rai to reduce production costs.

Mr. Charoen also called on the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to revise regulations allowing farmers to grow foreign rice varieties alongside local varieties in order to develop Thai rice varieties.

He argued that the government should accelerate the development of Thailand's rice industry by developing rice varieties that meet market demands.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts India will remain the largest rice exporter in 2025, followed by Vietnam and Thailand. Mr. Charoen stated that if Thailand does not take any action on this issue, its market share among major rice exporters could decline.

Regarding brown rice, Thailand is losing its export market to India. Thailand only produces white rice, which can still be sold in Iraq, Indonesia, and some African countries, he said.