Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Cassava root supply chain in Nakhornratchasima Province: Challenges and opportunities for local starch mills

Author(s):

Adisak Suvittawat ¹, Peeyush Soni ^{2 *}, Barbara Igel ³, Do Ba Khang ³

Recieved Date: 2013-09-12, Accepted Date: 2014-01-11

Abstract:

The demand of cassava roots is rapidly growing due to its use in both starch extraction and ethanol production. Not only the demand is high but also the competition for crop’s planting areas is also severe. Local starch mills have changed the way they procure cassava. They used to purchase cassava by volume, but now they focus more on the per cent content of extractable starch the cassava contains. Usually, it takes about 4.4 kg of cassava to produce one kg of starch, as long as the cassava contains at least 25% starch. Starch content is at its highest value when cassava is freshly harvested, so procuring the root directly from farmers offers higher starch content than buying from brokers. At the moment, the quality of cassava procured from both farmers and brokers is poor, which makes cassava production inefficient and raises starch production cost. The starch mills realize the importance of procuring quality cassava from its suppliers, since this is a proven strategy towards reducing cost of starch production. Improper planning in cassava procurement causes significant loss in the starch content - at the farmer field while waiting to harvest in anticipatory higher selling price, and at the mill warehouses where it is excessively stocked in the fear of inconsistent supply during off season. This results in loss of potential starch content, dissatisfying return to farmers, and inconsistent supply of raw materials to meet yearlong demand of mills. Proper planning in procurement process would therefore improve production efficiency and decrease production costs; simultaneously will also maintain consistent supply of raw material to the starch mills. To identify the factors influencing production and trading decision of farmers, this study considered the case of a leading starch mill (Corn Product Thailand, Nakornrachasima, Thailand) and its associated farmers and middleman in its procurement process.

Keywords:

Cassava roots, starch mill, supply chain, starch content, CPT, Nakornrachasima, Thailand

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2014
Volume: 12
Issue: 1
Category: Environment
Pages: 332-338

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