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Rice production is part of Thailand’s traditional knowledge. It is hypothesized that humans first observed how rice grew in nature, then cultivated rice near their dwellings. Evidence for rice cultivation through transplanting in Thailand had been found from prehistoric era, and the methods for rice cultivation have evolved to the extent that planting rice now differs from one type of eco-system to another.

Rice cultivation in Thailand had gone through various changes and evolutionary steps. There were many rice eco-system methods to plant rice, as recorded in the reign of King Rama V of the Rattanakosin era, and some of those are still in use today. These methods include:

    1. Dry Seeded Rice : This is one of Thailand’s original methods, broadcasting rice. Rice grown in this method would have a strong root system, able to withstand both drought and flash flood. However, the fields would also have weeds and yield problems. This method is gaining popularity, however, particularly in rainfed areas, such as the fields for floating rice, deep water rice, and rainfed rice in the Northeast.
     2. Transplanted Rice : This is the most popular method. It is suitable for irrigated areas where it is possible to control the amount of water in the field with buns, while the fields have to be leveled. It is not suitable for primarily rainfed areas. The farmers need to prepare the seedlings before transplanting them into fields, which requires meticulousness. Farmers must specifically select healthy seedlings to plant. There are few weeds in the field and the yield is good, but it also calls for a great deal of added labor in transplanted rice, which results in higher production costs.
     3. Broadcasting Wet Seed Rice : It is developed by the Department of Agriculture by modifying the wet seeding method of the past. This new version is comparable to dry seed broadcasting in that the rice plant is grown directly from the seeds. It is, however, a more intensive method. Pre-germinated seeds are sown into a plot that has been tilled, harrowed and carefully leveled. There are many good points to this modern rice farming method such as high yield and low costs. Weeds are still a problem, however. This method is suitable for irrigated areas where water control is possible, with bun and the field is leveled. It is not suitable for primarily rainfed areas.
     4. Stubble-Lodge Ratooning Rice : This method utilizes the rice stubbles from the previous harvest, allowing the apical buds on the stubbles to develop into full-grown plants which would later flower and produce seeds for another harvest. There are many positive effects of this method. There is neither the need to burn the paddy fields, re-till the soil, nor buy new seeds. It also reduces the amount of water needed and other production factors. This cuts down the costs, saves resources and conserves the environment. However, the rice plant grown in this method will be in various stages of growth, as the buds are in different stages of growth themselves thus causing the new rice plant to start growing at different times. It is then difficult to manage the rice field to produce high yields and stable grain quality. This method is suitable for irrigated areas where water control is possible through the set up of buns bordering leveled field. It is not suitable for primarily rainfed areas.