SUKHOTHAI - Best known for its historical sites, Sukhothai has introduced a new attraction, a 1,200-rai field of blossoming yellow Indian hemp, grown by farmers to replace second-crop rice.
The field of Indian hemp, known in Thai as por thuang, lies in Ban Mon Khiri village in tambon Muang Kao of Muang district. Local farmers there participated in the government's plan to reduce second-crop rice cultivation in the Chao Phraya river basin.
The farmers chose to grow Indian hemp instead of rice and now the vast field of golden bean-family plants against the mountainous backdrop during sunset have become a new attraction.
Land development officials encouraged the cultivation of Indian hemp, which is used to make fertiliser for rice fields. Farmers could also sell the seeds for extra income, said assistant village head Mongkolchai Ruangjaem.
Suchart Rianthong, Sukhothai land development director, said farmers could bury Indian hemp plants to make natural fertiliser for their future rice cultivation. Besides, they could sell hemp seeds at 20 baht per kilogramme to the local land development office and receive a 500-baht subsidy per rai from the government.
Indian hemp cultivation would expand from 1,200 rai in Ban Mon Khiri to 8,600 rai throughout Sukhothai province within this year, he said.
The yellow Indian hemp field is about seven kilometres from the Sukhothai Historical Park. Motorists can follow direction signs from the park via Chetuphon and Soke Ped villages.
