INTRODUCTORY OF TROPICAL HORTICULTURE

(FIELD TRIP)

            The field trip even conducted on Friday, November 30^th, 2012, at 07.00 am - 04.00 pm, in Rangsit and Talaad Thai, Phatumthani. Destination:

1.    Visited Lawn Grass Production.

2.    Visited Ornamental Plants Retail.

3.    Visited Talaad Thai.

1)  Lawn Grass Production

            

The first field trip, visited lawn grass production, located at Klong 15, Rangsit. The large of that place is 35 rai or around 56.000 m². In this place have 4 types of grass. The first grass that I observed use irrigation system and need 40-45 days for growing, and also use the springkler for the irrigation. The function of planting grass, to cover the part of area. In Thailand, when the grass already grow, the workers will cut strip of grass, one by a half meter. They also have equipment for harvest the grass. First, they will cut the grass and move the grass from the soil, with high 1 cm including soil. They said that the price of this grass was 25 baht per square meter, but in the market it would be expensive.

The second grass that I observed, for preparing a planting area or for growing the grass, the workers have to buy the mud from the other place and put the mud to the grass area and then they store the mud. After that, they spread liquid mud on the every side and replace the grass, 5 cm for each part. Spacing is 5x5cms, they use ditches for irrigation, the grass is cut every 12 days, the cultivation area is 1600m². After 1 week, they will use chemical and fertilizer to stimulate the grass every area. The formula of chemical fertilizer is 18, 12 and 6. In summer, they irrigate 3 times a day. In rainy season, they have to prevent pest and use pesticide. In winter, the grass growing late, the grass doesn’t grow very well, they use hormone to stimulate. This grass use to decorate, celebrate of new year and etc,. Winter is the hardest time to maintained. In winter season, they can sell the grass after 40-45 days. For price of this grass is 20 baht per square meter. For the other grass is 15 baht per square meter and in the market will be 18-20 baht per square meter.

           For selling the grass, they have to show the product around the road and the customer will come. If they didn’t have the grass that customer want, they will tell the neighbours. Noan noy or Manila grass is the one cheapest (15 baht). Ya yi pun or Japan grass is the favorite grass. This grass just need the mud to separated, and the root doesn’t need to grow deeper to the soil. If Noan noy grass growing under the big trees, it will dead. This grass have to in open land design. Ya yi pun grass have different colour with Noan noy grass. The worker have 2 days to work, to replant the grass and spray the mud, because mud is major basement of this grass. 1200 m2 of grass is sold and the remaining is kept for breeding. They will get 300-400 baht after they work.

2) Ornamental Plants Retail

The second fieldtrip, visited ornamental plant retails, located at Klong 12, Rangsit. There are many of ornamental plants which for sale, and also many equipment and maintenance tools, such as pot and vase. The examples of ornamental plants at this plasce, such as Orchid, Marigold, Chrysanthemum, Frangipani, plumed cockscomb, Lantana and Bougainvillea.

3) Talaad Thai

The third or last fieldtrip, visited Talaad Thai, located at 31 Moo 9 Phaholyothin km. 42 Klong 1, Klongluang, Pathumthani. Talaad Thai, the number one intregrated agricultural wholesale market in Thailand. Talaad Thai, established in 1995 and managed by Thai Agro Exchange Co., Ltd. is the distribution centre of domestic and international agricultural products. They utilize the area of 200 acres by dividing it into many markets, offering proper infrastuctures and facilities throughout 24 hours. The vision of Talaad Thai or their aim to generate a perfect condition of centralized agricultural wholesale market management with high quality products in order to meet customer satisfaction. Talaad Thai is determined to develop Thailand land and operation to serve overall agro-businesses by providing their significant stakeholders, including traders, farmers and consumer, with quality, hygiene, reasonable prices and supreme services, based on a good community environment.

Talaad Thai have a lot products of fruits, vegetables, meat, ornaments, farm crop and rice and also other markets. The distribution of fresh fruit from every region in Thailand as well as high quality imported fruits. All fruits, having good quality and reasonable prices, are carefully selected by their expert buyers. Daily caravans of fresh vegetables from farms to Talaad Thai. They are one of the huge distribution centers and ready to allocate fresh vegetables to our customers. They emphasize product variety, food safety and convenience of buyers and sellers.

In Talaad Thai, non-toxic meat hub. All meats are fresh, hygienic and safe for consumers’ health. They also provide many kinds of fresh water fishes, seafood and processed frozen food. Talaad Thai has market of flowers and ornamental plants. They offer a wide variety of products from Thailand and overseas, such as flowers, leaves, ornaments, Sanga Phand (Monk’s items), ornamental plants, garden decorating equipment and gardening services. They also have variety of farm crops, rice and grains that sold in fair prices. To become the perfect market and respond to consumer needs present and in the future. Talaad Thai provides the fresh market, the sweets market, the dried food market and etc,.

The other informations that I get, most products of fruit come from china. Some seller in Talaad Thai are the member of Talaad Thai cooperation. Each products of fruit have different number of member. Talaad Thai always recommend and give the knowledge like GAP (Good Agriculture Product) about a few month and also give the informations about good or high technology for the members. Talaad Thai have place for store the important products.

Some seller in Talaad Thai have the own farm and some farmers also as dealer. 70% of fruit products imported from China, also some imported from Australia, New Zealand and American. The packaging from Euroe and American use paper package, but from China, the products of orange use the plastic box.

Talaad Thai give the knowledge to the member of farmer about illegal and not illegal of the product, so the farmer can past. Talaad Thai can get benefit around 200-300 milion baht per day and save it at Thai Bank, and also China or Singapore Bank. The price of every products depend on the supplier or the market. Talaad Thai or the company don’t have control for the price. In the market, can store the products around 1-2 days. At around Talaad Thai also have a lot of house store and mostly the member or importer have own store. The place in Pathumthani near Talaad Thai can keep 400 containers.

Mostly vegetables in Talaad Thai, one from local and some import. Product local more smaller than China. For the example of product is purple cabbage, the member can sell it 5 kg. In Talaad Thai also has spice zone for India Curry or Thai Tomyam. A lot of the host seller that retailer and farmer in Talaad Thai.