Roles and Use Potentials of Rice Combine Harvester

Abstract

The rice combine harvester had been introduced to Thai farmer for a long time. Due to its expensive cost, not suitable field conditions and high tehcnology, the rice combine harvester was not accepted by Thai farmer. However, because of the expansion of industrial sector, labor was migrated and consequently short in agricultural sector especially in harvest period. During 1985-1986, the rice combine harvester was developed by the local manufacturers. There were about 1500 harvesters made by 30 manufacturesrs during 1990-1991. The parts of havester were integrated among exported parts, used parts and using axial flow threasher as threshing unit. The hire rate was about 250-300 baht/rao.
The futute role of rice combine harvester in Thailand was considered to be on economic, social and agricultural production systens. Foreconomic aspect, the labor shortage in harvesting, the need in quality improvement of rice and cost reduction wee the needs that lead to the utilization of rice combine harvester. For social aspect, due to labour migration most available labour were the old eople and children. For agricultural production system, the rice combing harvester was necessary in timely harvesting for upland crop lanting as a second crop after rice.