Adams International's farmer extension program has been a model for small farmer contract farming since it's inception in 1975. During the 2003/04 season, over 12,500 farmer families grew 21,830 rai (3,500 hectares) of Oriental leaf for the company in 14 districts of northeastern Thailand; 75% in the Roiet area. An extension staff of over 200 advisors helps the farmers and monitors every step of the process from site selection to final sale of the green bale. Yields of 1,000 kilograms per hectare are typical. Two trials farms research agronomic practices and produce quality seed.

Climate

The climate of northeast Thailand is sub-tropical, with average temperatures varying from 22.8 C during the cooler winter months to 35.5 C during the hotter summer months.

Average annual rainfall is about 1400 mm with most of the rain falling between March to October. During the growing months little or no rain falls for 4 months from November to February.

Relative humidity during the growing/curing season is quite low and averages between 60% - 65% humidity.

Crop Calendar:

Sept - Oct	Seedbeds
Oct - Dec	Transplanting
Dec - Mar	Harvesting and curing
Feb - May	Buying, regrading and storage
May - Aug	Processing and packing

 

 Agronomy and Growing Practices

Control of plant populations is crucial to ensure that leaf size is kept small. Thus the crop is planted at 50,000/rai (312,000/ha) with a spacing of 8 cm x 40 cm.

After the seedbeds have been sown, crop culture proceeds as follows:

30 - 35 days	transplant
75 - 80 days	begin to harvest
110 - 120 days	finish harvesting after about 7 harvests
125 - 135 days	finish sun curing
135 - 145 days	collect the last cured leaves to hang in garlands under the house
165 - 175 days	finish bulking
175 - 185 days	finish baling and selling

 

Yields of 150kgs/rai (937.5kgs/ha) are typical.

Farmers are issued 100% cotton string for stringing the cured leaf. Farmer bales are packed at 12 kgs.

Growing Areas

The tobacco is purchased by Adams International personnel at 21 different locations around northeast Thailand. About 80% of the tobacco is concentrated around the Roi Et area, where the company's main field office is based.