태국에서 옥수수 종자마을 조성 사례 연구
태국에의 옥수수 재배는 종자 가격의 상승, 잦은 기후변화, 때때로 부족한 종자로 인하여 종자구입을 주저하고 있는 실정인데, 종자의 자가소비 및 이웃농가 보급을 통하여 옥수수 종자구입 비용의 절감을 목적으로, 태국 농업청(Department of Agriculture, Thailand)과 한국 농촌진흥청(Rural DevelopmentAdministration, Republic of Korea)과의 협력으로 AFACI(Asian Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative)의 태국 국별 과제로 옥수수 종자마을 조성(Maize Seed Village) 사업을 선정하여 추진하였다. 대상 품종은 태국 자체 육성종인 건조저항성 단교잡종 나콘사완3(Nakhon Sawan 3)로 교잡종 채종기술은 나콘사완전작물연구소가 운영한 채종농가 훈련을 거쳐 이전되었으며 이를 위하여 종자채종기술 교재 600부를 제작 활용하였다. 2010 여름, 2011 우기, 2011 여름 기간, 총 3작기에 걸쳐 5개주 52개 마을 175농가 96 ha에서 종자 79,988kg을 생산하여 자가 소비 및 이웃 농가 보급에 활용하였다. 생산된 종자의 판매가격은 일반 상업화 종자 가격의 46~60%수준이었으며, 농가는 나콘사완 3 교잡 종자에 대한 채종재배기술과 품종의 성능에 크게 만족하였다.
In recent years, farmers tend to invest more on seed purchasing for maize cultivation mainly due to increase of seed price, risk from climate change and seed shortage. In this regard, an attempt has been made to establish “Maize Seed Village” in order to ensure seed sufficiency among farmers thus saving cost of seed purchasing. The Department of Agriculture (DOA), Thailand and Rural Development Administration (RDA), Republic of Korea have jointly undertaken the project “Strengthening Seed Production through Maize Seed Village” in Thailand from 2010-2012 under the Asian Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (AFACI). The project aimed to establish maize seed village of Nakhon Sawan 3, a drought-tolerant hybrid cultivar. The technology of hybrid seed production of this cultivar was transferred to the farmers in 5 provinces through training programs with 600 copies of hybrid seed production manual. 175 farmers from the 52 villages with a total of 96 ha joined the project and continuously produced drought-tolerant hybrid seeds in the summer of 2010-2011 during rainy season. The farmers were able to produce 79,988 kg of drought-tolerant hybrid seeds. The hybrid seed price produced by the farmers was 46 to 60 % low compared with commercial hybrid seed. The farmers were satisfied with the introduction of Nakhon Sawan 3 hybrid seed production technology and performance of their hybrid variety.