The going will get tougher for Thailand's farm exports next year, as they would have to fight to keep their role as a driving force behind the country's overall export growth, according to Kasikorn Research Centre (KRC).
 

The think-tank forecast the farm and agro-industry product exports for next year would experience many risk factors, and that exporters would need to quickly adjust their strategy to ensure they remain viable amid the current global economic crisis.

KRC said 2008 is considered a golden year for the farm and agro-industry businesses because demand for farm products leapfrogged on worries of agriculture product shortage. Exporting agricultural and livestock products also tend to increase to a record high due to growing concerns on food shortages.          

Bad weather conditions, floodings and heat waves have also greatly damaged Thailand's production output. Due to these factors, farm shipment-dependent countries had rushed to import the products for stocks.

KRC expects Thai farm exports to total US$31.1 billion this year, up 26.1 percent, on continued export growth.