Paper Title
Rice Milling in Thailand: Crisis or Opportunity
Abstract
Rice production has long played a pivotal role in socio-economic development, making Thailand one of the
world’s largest rice exporters over the previous three decades. Development of the Thai rice industry demonstrates a lack of
balance in relation to rapid change of trade, troubleshooting, and support from government. These factors have contributed to
economic problems and have had a direct effect on production and operational processes relating to national trade. The Thai
economy depends on international trade to strengthen the capacity.Some researches demonstrate that regional location of rice
mills, size of business, type of business (e.g., family business), rice mill activity (e.g., roasting), and government/institutional
factors pose as formidable considerations. Limited investment in education, technology, and modern machinery are barriers
to growth. It is now time that interventions should focus on helping to build capabilities though training, education,
technology, and innovation to enable this industry to re-gain a sustainable competitive advantage and move up the global
rankings in this sector. Currently, there are two choices for rice mills need to choose. In one hand, they choose to develop
their own available technologies to assist in the operation in the rice mill. As well as learn more in order to develop their rice
mills. In other hand, they are to continue to use the technology and knowledge of the ancestor. At the same time, the
government must have a clear policy that helps to support the operation of the rice mill to improve the likelihood of survival
Thai rice mill. It is time that the Thai government must consider “Smart Miller” not only “Smart Farmer”.
Keywords - Rice Milling, Miller, Rice Industry, Thailand