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PACIFIC SEEDS (THAI) LTD AND BUSINESS OUTLOOK |
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Pacific Seeds (Thai) Ltd is an innovative company and has been successfully bringing hybrid technology to Thai agribusiness for over past 30 years. At Pacific Seeds, we are engaged in research, production and marketing of hybrid seeds for corn (field, baby and sweet corn), sorghum, sunflower and other grain products, as well as forage crop seeds for animal production. Our key objective is to help Asian farmers increase their yields. Thai corn yields were increased from 2 Mts/ha in 1975 up to 4 Mts/ha in 2008 when farmers have moved from using Open Pollinated Varieties to hybrid seeds. Pacific Seeds has introduced hybrid seeds for many field crops in Thailand to boost farmers’ productivity since 1979. This has been very successful to lift up productivity of many crop as better farmers now achieving more than 10,000 kg/ha. HISTORY 1975 - Pacific Seeds Australia started testing hybrid sorghum and sunflower seeds in Thailand. Tests were conducted at Pakchong, Nakornratchasima, Phraputthabat and Kaengkhoi in Saraburi Province and at Koktoom, Lopburi province. In these areas of the central corn belt, our varieties showed very good adaptation. 1979 - We started promoting hybrid red sorghum in Thailand. This was a new crop, and now very important in Thai agriculture. In 1979, we transferred the tropical corn and sorghum breeding program from Australia to Pacific Seeds (Thai) Ltd. We also started production of hybrid corn seeds in Thailand. We were the first international seed company to successfully promote and sell hybrid seeds in Thailand, with direct financial benefits for farmers. 1980 - We started regular sales of hybrid corn and hybrid red sorghum seeds in Thailand, and began work to develop the international market for Thai red sorghum. 1982 - We set up a temporary office in Phraputthabat, Saraburi and started the construction of a large, automated processing plant with a throughput capacity of 10,000 MT/year. We also started the construction of warehousing facilities, a modern office and staff accommodation. 1983 - The opening of the processing plant, warehouse, offices and dormitory complex was on February 23, 1983. Our permanent address is 1 Moo 13, Phaholyothin Road, Phraputthabat, Saraburi. This is located at Km.137, north east of Bangkok, between the cities of Saraburi and Lopburi. 1984 - We started to import forage seeds from Australia and improved forage to dairy farmers. This was to improve the quality of feeds for cattle and increase milk production. As a result, Thai dairy cattle are now well fed. We also introduced hybrid sunflower seeds to farmers in Lopburi, Saraburi, Nakornsawan and Chiang Mai. To encourage farmers to try this new, promising crop, we guaranteed a market for all sunflower seed produced. 1985 - By 1985, we were the leader in hybrid seed technology in Thailand. Our main strength was our strong research and development division, supported by equally capable production and marketing divisions. This is still the situation. We have “state of the art” research, and excellent national marketing. 1986 - We launched a nationwide Model Farm Program to show farmers the benefits of using hybrid seeds with the proper amount of fertilizers, and good husbandry.This had a very positive impact on farmers’ attitudes. 1987 - This year saw the start of a strong export push in seed, and showed that the technology developed in Pacific Seeds could be used throughout Asia. It also showed that Thailand provided a good base for training to help develop seeds in Asia. 1988 - By 1988, red sorghum was well established as an export crop, with markets in Taiwan, and the Middle East. Pacific Seeds had helped to build a whole new export industry for Thailand. 1988 was the year when Pacific’s role in the baby corn and forage seed supply expanded readily, supported by high levels of canned baby corn exports, and strong imports of dairy animals. 1989 - Pacific Seeds became part of ICI Seeds, a leading world biotechnology company. The integration of biotechnology to the Thai corn breeding program was started. This was to ensure the superiority of Pacific Seeds corn products developed in the future. 1990 - Pacific Seeds released the new baby corn hybrid Pacific 5, and the forage hybrid “Nutrifeed” in the Thai market. 1991 - The biotechnology work was expanded, and the incorporation of downy mildew resistance genes in susceptible material can now be done very effectively and precisely. The marketing strategy put emphasis on sales and technical services to dealers and farmers, as well as the establishment of seed centres in major corn belt zones. We expanded our corn seed sales in Asia to include Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan, Myanmar, and Malaysia. 1992 - We introduced the new corn series “Taywadah” (Taywadah 44, 55 and 77) and launched the forage hybrid - Superdan. The performance of Pacific corn hybrids in Asian countries showed yield superiority for Pacific 11 in Vietnam, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India. Farmers in Vietnam and Bangladesh could obtain yields of over 10 MT/Ha. Pacific 9715 in Japan also showed superiority as a silage corn. We improved seed sizing in our processing plant to supply very the Thai high quality graded seed. We worked with the Thai Department of Agricultural Extension to promote planting of hybrid sunflower, Pacific 33, in paddy fields. 1993 - Pacific Seeds became part of Zeneca Seeds, resulting from organizational change in the ICI group of companies. Zeneca is one of the world’s leaders in biotechnology. New baby corn (Pac 421) has been launched late in 1993. The hybrids show high yield capability and very early maturity compare to current hybrids in the market. 1994 - Hybrid corn Pac 328 performed extremely well under farmer conditions in Thailand. Pac 328 won first prize in yield contests in many provinces organised by the Department of Agriculture Extension. These high yields ensure high incomes for farmers who use Pacific Seeds hybrid corn. 1995 - Pacific Seeds in Thailand placed a lot of effort in model farm and strip trial programs. Over 400 locations were planted in 1993, increasing to over 1000 sites in 1995. It is the company’s policy to demonstrate and recommend to farmers products and technical packages through the model farm programme across the corn belt of Thailand. The new corn hybrids (Pac 300 and Pac 700) were released in Thailand, and tested in Asia markets. Pacific 11 usage increased in Vietnam. Pacific 11’s high yield potential and early maturity suited the cropping pattern, and are the key seasons for success of this hybrid, recognized by Vietnamese farmers. Excellent performance of Pac 11 has also been noted in Pakistan and Bangladesh. This indicates the wide adaptability of Pacific Seeds hybrid corns across Asia. New sweet corns Hibrix 5 and Hibrix 6 were introduced in 1995. They were well accepted by farmers and processors for high yield potential, as well as high quality. Pacific Seeds and the Thai Department of Agricultural Extension are promoting the expansion of the sunflower crop in Thailand. An area of 200,000 rais has been targeted in the late rainy season, as well as paddy field area of more than 20,000 rais in the dry season. Sunflower will be a very important field crop for Thailand in the near future. The production areas will be reached over 1 million rais by the year 2000’s.
1996- In August 1996 Zeneca and Cosun (formerly known as Suiker Unie) successfully established the new seed company “ADVANTA SEEDS” The new company will have sales of US$ 450 million with operating units in East and West Europe, the U.S.A., Canada, Latin American, Asia and Australia. The group is active in Sugar Beet, Maize Sunflower, Sorghum, Rape, Cereals, Grasses and Vegetables. We are now one of the largest seed companies in the world. Board of management has approved budget for IT project. This is to ensure that company will have appropriate management information systems to support company decision making in effective, accurate and timely manner. Establishment of LAN system along with software development have been operational. Petch 99 a full season sorghum hybrid was released. High yield potential with strong red grain colour are key trail of this hybrid. 1997 - Two field corn hybrids namely Pac 626 and Pac 848 we recommended as precommercial product. They performed very well under farmer planting condition. They tended to produce high yield potential along with orange flint kernel. 1998- Pac 129 a baby corn hybrid is released for canning market where Pac 116 is for frozen fresh can market. We are proud to have helped farmers to use hybrid seeds and improve their crop agronomy in Thailand, and throughout Asia. Surveys through 1982-92 among farmers using Pacific hybrid corn seeds revealed that their yields averaged at 5,000 kg/ha (800 kg/rai), with top yields over 10,000 kg/ha. This was more than double corn yields using traditional technology. 1999- Pacific Seeds has concentrated more efforts on promoting new set of corn hybrids namely Pac 626, Pac 983 and Pac 988 through the model farm program and research trials net work. The early harvested crops in a number of locations representing major corn areas have shown the farmers’ most satisfaction on the yield performance of the hybrids as well as neighboring farmers who have seen the crop grown. The sales effort has intensified to bring the hybrids’ differential advantage more visibly to the market. The new baby corn hybrid, Pac 116 was introduced early this year in Western region. This hybrid contains high yield potential with the most attractive ear shape. Pac 116 will increase baby corn volumn not only in western but across country and export business as well.
The new sweet corn hybrid, Hibrix 10 which have proved it high reputation by farmers in Praputhabat, Saraburi as high price sweet corn cobs. The post harvest quality is also excellent for cannery. Pacific Seed believes that with the high yield potential together with good quality of Hibrix 10 will expand sweet corn sales in the year to come. Pacific Seeds has very strong position in sorghum and sunflower which the hybrid often performing better than the industry competitors. The sales and research strategy is to use benefit on the hybrid advantage to expand volume. However Pacific Seeds is to work closely with industry users in order to make the crops be required as raw material sources for industry. In 2000 – 2005Pacific Seeds has put a lot of efforts on product development for field corn in 2000 toward now. This is to identify superior hybrid corn through on farm trials across corn belt of Thailand. The result in 2002 and 2003 has shown the superiority of Pac984 over leading hybrids in market places. Our focus is to bring the fact information to farmers and dealers in order to expand use of Pac984 in wider areas. Our sweet corn Hibrix10 had become popular hybrid in fresh and canning segments. Sales has increased sharply since 2000. In 2003, new hybrid namely Hibrix3 had been released for frozen segment and canning segment as well. The high eating quality of this hybrid could enhance the canned export sale for high quality segment particular in Japan. The demand of Hibrix 3 was sharply increased by can processor, and this made Hibrix 3 is the “TOP SWEET CORN HYBRID” in Thailand. A new baby corn hybrid – Pac283 has now performed very outstanding in western territory. The attractive ear shape and high yield potential are important traits that farmers have experienced with it. Pac283 suits to both fresh and canning segment. Hysun44 a new sunflower hybrids was released in 2002. Pacific Seeds has high confidence on its performance. And Pac44 is expected to be popular hybrid in Thailand for the following year once farmers have harvested their crop. We had released Pac 55 in 2003, this is to fulfill the customer demand in sunflower seed market.
2009 and nowadays On February 14, 2006, Pacific Seeds (Thai) was acquired by UPL, a world leading agrochemical company base in Mumbai, India. UPL wants to expand business in to seed segment. This is a fitted strategy to expand our business services covering to tropical regions in Asia Paicific and Latin America regions. Pacific Seeds has offered large variety of products mix in 2009 from intensive development and testing programs over past few years. They are as follows Field corn: Pac999 and Pac224
We are proud to present new hybrid products for customer choices and believe these products will provide more profits to farmers who have grown them in their farms. The whole world is under pressure to boost food production. To do this, farmers must become more efficient. At Pacific Seeds, we are helping Thai and other Asian farmers to improve their production, improve their efficiency and improve their quality of life. Make Your Future Grow
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