The operation performance of Khao Hin Sorn Agricultural Cooperative Rice Mill Ltd., Chachoengsao province, Thailand

Abstract

The operation performance of the Khao Hin Sorn Agricultural Cooperative Rice Mill Ltd., Chachoengsao Province, Thailand was studied. The results revealed that Khao Hin Sorn Agricultural Cooperative Rice Mill Ltd. is royal patronage which is supported by various agencies such as the Cooperative Promotion Department, and Land Development Department. This cooperative collected paddy from 10 farmer members, with average amount of paddy at 14 tons per year, and the paddy were delivered to the cooperative rice mill for processing. The full mill capacity is 1.2 ton of paddy per day. The service charge rate is one Thai baht per kilogram. The cooperative has produced rice in both packaging and non-packaging for sale to consumers by themselves. Regarding the SWOT analysis results, concerning the strengths, the cooperative rice mill was royal patronage that can provide inexpensive milling service charge for farmers. Additionally, operation staff had experience in rice milling for a long time. Whilst the weaknesses were the rice mill without checked the quality of paddy before milling-process and did not have the specialized technicians to repair a milling machine as well as budget deficit. In terms of the opportunities, the rice mill had a wide range of support from organizations of budgeting, staff, and administration. Moreover, farmers was preferred consuming rice grown by their own. Finally, the threats were the rice mill which located in a non-rice-farming area, and it operated less than the full milling capacity. The collaboration with supply chain partners should be encouraged to increase the quantity of paddy for the milling process.