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โครงการหนังสืออิเล็กทรอนิกส์ด้านการเกษตร เฉลิมพระเกียรติพระบาทสมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัว

To encourage the good agricultural practices (GAP) for farmers especially small scale
farmers in rural areas. This is because nowadays the average crop yields for cassava and

sugarcane are still lower than their genetic potentials. For example, the average cassava and
sugarcane yields today are just around 19.3 and 76.2 tons/hectare, respectively. However, based

on the existing varieties and their genetic potentials, the yields of cassava and sugarcane could
potentially be around 31-50 ton/ha and 94-112 ton/ha, respectively. To achieve the high genetic

potential yields, those high yields must be supported with good agricultural practices in farming e.g.
improving soil quality by using organic fertilizers and good practices in land preparation, plantation,

harvesting and regularly weed control.

9.1.2 Irrigation development in the high potential water stress areas

The WF and WSI assessment in the project reveal that the development and improvement

of irrigation system should be promoted in the areas that potentially have high water stress due to
the expansion of biofuels industry e.g. Mun and Chi watersheds. The promotion is not only to be

the large scale water storage implementation, but the small scale irrigation systems by using local
water reservoirs in the plantation areas are also possible e.g. surface irrigation, sprinkler irrigation,

micro-irrigation, and sub-surface irrigation and water storage system. Medium and large scales are
suggested to increase and enhance the efficiency of irrigation system in such areas.

9.1.3 Promoting expansion of energy crop cultivation in the suitable areas

Zoning or promoting the new crop plantation areas for supporting the energy policy of the
government such as bioethanol and biodiesel policy is necessary to be considered by the policy

makers. The suitable areas should be identified and set by taking water resource availability and
water stress in consideration. The promotion should emphasize crop productivity improvement

instead of expansion of cultivation areas. This is in order to avoid the other consequent impacts;
not only water competition but also land competition for food, feed and fuel.

9.1.4 Promotion to sugarcane ethanol in the Thai bioethanol system

The results show that ethanol derived from sugarcane juice has the lowest total WF and

also the irrigation water required as compared to cassava and molasses ethanol. Therefore

sugarcane is found as the crucial feedstock that can increase the security of feedstocks supply for
bioethanol production in Thailand. The government therefore should emphasize promotion of
sugarcane juice ethanol production by solving some of the existing constraints such as the Sugar

Act of 1984 which does not support ethanol production from sugarcane and the duration of

sugarcane supply which is limited to just over the period of December to March.
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