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Thailand Maize
Maize was believed to have been introduced by Spanish or
Portuguese traders in the sixteenth century. Export interest and
profitability led to increased maize cultivation after World War
II and the introduction of the so-called Guatemala strain in
1951. Output rose rapidly thereafter to almost 600,000 tons in
1961, over 1 million tons in 1965, and 2.3 million tons in 1971.
A record 5 million tons were produced in 1985. Fertilizer use was
limited, however, and there was concern that yields would
gradually decline. The grain was grown throughout Thailand, but
the uplands around the central plain were especially suitable.
Weather conditions usually permitted commercial growers to
produce two crops a year.
Data as of September 1987
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