According to Tsutomu Miyakoshi, former general manager of the Research Institute of Agricultural Economics under the Niigata prefectural government, Thai farmers could also enjoy such a high income if greater focus were placed on innovation.

During a briefing in Bangkok last week, Miyakoshi attributed Japanese farmers’ high incomes to their focus on production quality, which could be achieved through innovative solutions for rice farming as well as innovative ideas on adding value to the farms’ output.

As a major rice producer, Thailand could maintain such a position if farming were possible even during a natural disaster. Meanwhile, Thailand may need to diversify its focus, from merely producing rice as a main staple to producing rice products with added value, he said.

In Japan, the help starts from the government. When there is a risk of storms with strong winds, farmers are told to deepen their rice fields so that they can hold more water and allow the rice to grow without interruption. Japanese farmers also coat rice seeds with iron powder to add weight. This will also help protect the seeds from birds.

Once output becomes steady, they pay attention to rice packaging and design. Thanks to this creativity, one brand of Japanese rice can sell its product for 2,000 yen (about Bt660) per kilogram.

Some Japanese farmers have also diversified into rice-based products such as snacks and cosmetics. This helps increase their incomes and creates sustainable development for the rice industry, Miyakoshi said.

“When rice is turned into products, the value tends to increase three- to fivefold,” he said.

Miyakoshi is ready to share these experiences with Thai farmers.

As agricultural-solutions adviser to Siam Kubota Corp, he is working on solutions to develop the Thai rice industry, embracing innovation. The objective is to reduce farmers’ reliance on the mercy of nature or government subsidies.

The solutions should be ready within one year and Siam Kubota may seek help from government agencies in implementing them.

While waiting for the right solutions, Miyakoshi urges farmers, which normally cultivate 5-10 rai (8,000-16,000 square metres) per household, to integrate their rice fields to increase bargaining power when purchasing agricultural machinery and equipment.