November 25, 2024 – Under the leadership of Mr. Nikorn Saengket, Director of ROAE 8, a dedicated team from the Agricultural Information Division embarked on a field survey to evaluate the yield per rai of in-season (upland) rice cultivated during the 2024/25 growing season. Employing the Crop Cutting Method, this initiative targeted upland rice intercropped within rubber plantations, oil palm estates, and other perennial orchards that are not yet in production.This meticulous survey, conducted in Surat Thani Province, serves as a critical preparatory phase for scaling up data collection across key upland rice-growing regions in Upper Southern Thailand. Simultaneously, parallel assessments are being conducted for lowland rice cultivation, ensuring that the collected data is not only comprehensive and robust but also reflective of diverse agricultural practices across the region.      Moreover, the findings from these surveys will support the formulation of precise and actionable insights into both lowland and upland rice production
Nowadays, the intercropping of upland rice alongside principal crops such as rubber trees, oil palms, and immature perennial orchards has increasingly gained traction among farmers, as it enhances land-use efficiency and generates supplementary income during periods when primary crops have yet to yield returns. Conversely, lowland rice cultivation has shown a discernible decline, with some farmers shifting to oil palm production: a trend indicative of evolving agricultural priorities.