Santichai Jongkiartkajorn, 64, a farmer in Betong district of Yala province, has lived off rubber for years. He and his family endured harsh conditions over the past few years as rubber prices remained relatively low.
Mr Santichai raises Nile tilapia in Betong, Yala province.
"I don't expect much income from rubber trees because prices are very low and there are yet to be any signs of a recovery in rubber prices," says Mr Santichai, who owns 95 rai of rubber trees handed down as an inheritance last year from his father.
But Mr Santichai has seen a glimmer of hope after deciding to raise tilapia nil (Nile tilapia) on two rai in 2007.
After just four months, the fish he rears have generated 450,000 baht.
"The water flowing from the San Kala Khiri mountain range is clear, full of minerals and without blue algae, meaning tilapia here have no smell of soil," Mr Santichai says. "Tilapia is popular among Betong restaurants, which demand 400-500kg a month."
Farmers who raise tilapia in Betong district enjoy a price of 90-95 baht per kg, which is much higher than the 40-50 baht per kg of third-class smoked rubber sheet.
Given strong demand, Mr Santichai plans to raise his tilapia production to 50-60 tonnes next year on three rai, hoping to generate 4.5 million baht.
"Raising tilapia on three rai can generate more income than 95 rai of the rubber plantation," he says, adding that income from his rubber plantation is estimated at a mere 7,500 baht.
Income from raising fish is expected to help the family repay 2.5 million baht in debt owed to the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives.
Mr Santichai also plans to join a group of tilapia farmers in Betong who will export frozen fillets to the Middle East starting next year.
"We expect that the export plan can increase the value of tilapia and generate better income for farmers in the area," he says.
Chanathan Naruevestanont, 43, the chief of farmers who raise tilapia in Betong, says the group is set to sign a deal with private companies this month to export 100-150 tonnes of frozen tilapia. Shipments are expected to start by next April.
According to Mr Chanathan, the private companies will invest in a cold storage room, while farmers will supply fresh tilapia.
The details of the investment have yet to be settled because the production process must also conform with halal food principles.
The farmer group also wants to raise the size of tilapia to 6-8kg per fish from 3-4kg now. The bigger size will fetch a higher income for farmers, Mr Chanathan says.
In 2017, the 11 members of the group generated 18 million baht in income by selling 200 tonnes to Betong restaurants.
Mr Chanathan says the group has talked to the Commerce Ministry about receiving a geographical identification (GI) certificate for the tilapia of Betong, as the local fish differ from tilapia in other areas.
Tilapia is one of the products and schemes initiated by the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who looked kindly on fish farming as a source of affordable, high-quality protein for Thais, especially those in remote areas.
The experiment began with the Java tilapia species, which the King reared himself before settling on the Nile tilapia species presented to him by Crown Prince Akihito of Japan in 1965.
The King gave the fish the Thai name pla nil and promoted the species among Thai farmers.
In 1989, Charoen Pokphand Group was granted royal permission to develop pla nil by crossbreeding it with premium foreign breeding stocks from the US, Taiwan and Israel. CP Group in 1998 introduced the hybrid Nile tilapia, on which His Majesty bestowed the name pla thapthim (ruby tilapia).
Pla thapthim is widely known among consumers and provides numerous jobs in the agriculture industry.
Thailand produces a combined 300,000 tonnes of pla nil and pla thapthim, fetching sales of 15 billion baht a year. Of the total output, exports account for about 30,000 tonnes a year.
The late King Bhumibol Adulyadej viewed fish farming as a source of affordable protein.