Thailand has long depended on imports of feed corn from neighbouring countries to bridge the gap between domestic demand and insufficient local production. However, a proposal to import feed corn from the US has sparked a debate over its potential impact on agricultural industries.The Explainer examines the key issues at the centre of this controversy and explores potential strategies to improve domestic corn production.
Why does Thailand need to import feed corn?
Thailand uses about 9 million tonnes of feed corn annually, but produces only 5 million tonnes, a shortfall of 4 million tonnes.
Each year, roughly 3.2 million tonnes are imported, including 1.5 million tonnes of corn from neighbouring countries and 1.7 million tonnes of wheat, leaving a deficit of about 800,000 tonnes.
Pornsil Patcharintanakul, president of the Thai Feed Mill Association (TFMA) and secretary-general of the Federation of Livestock and Aquaculture, said Thailand requires burn-free certification for all feed corn and wheat imports to curb cross-border air pollution. As a result, corn imports from Myanmar are expected to fall to 1.1 million tonnes this year.
