Orchids in Thailand - a Success Story

Publication no. 1997/1
(pdf format, 2,732 KBytes)

Orchids rank highest among the several tropical ornamental crops, especially cut-flower crops, that are important to the Thai agriculture and economy. Orchid growing started as a hobby in Thailand about 80 years ago; unti11966, only a small amount of orchid cut-flowers were exported from Thailand to some European countries; but the country attained the status of the world’s leading producer and exporter of orchids in a little over a decade and it continues to hold the top ranking since 1979. This story tells the success of orchid growing and trade, including export, for high income earning from cut-flowers and orchid plants, through concerted national efforts in respect of germplasm resource management, research, training, extension and technology application.