Reference: Thailand to become biggest tractor market for Kubota, Bangkok Post, July 5, 2008

Last month the Bangkok Post reported that the high cost of fuel was driving Thai farmers to abandon farm machinery and to go back to water buffaloes to till their land. This month it says that rising farm prices are driving Thai farmers to buy more tractors than ever before (Thailand to become biggest tractor market for Kubota, Bangkok Post, July 5, 2008). It should be noted that oil prices have gone up and rice prices have fallen over the last month. Perhaps the water buffalo story was anecdotal and not indicative of a national trend.

Cha-am Jamal
Thailand