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Rubber Technique
Rubber History



"The wealth in agricultural occupations is the wealth of people and also of the national security.” This quotation belongs to Phraya Ratsadanupradit Mahison Phakdi, Commissioner of Monthon Phuket, who was one of the farsighted persons with initiative thinking in maintaining the country and well-being of the citizens.

In addition, he kept on bringing about agricultural works for people all the time. He brought the new knowledge from going abroad to support the people. For example, after visiting Indonesia he had the idea to create "Fresh Market” to facilitate people both farmers and consumers.

There was an announcement to promote about the market that merchants from other districts could bring their goods selling and exchanging in the market which was circulated places so that people in the different neighborhoods could associate each other more. The important economic plant of Thailand which has been the 3rd in the export market followed by Indonesia and Malaysia was also one of his initiative effort and intention 80 years ago. Phraya Ratsadanupradit Mahison Phakdi, Commissioner of Monthon Phuket, formerly known as Khaw Sin Bee na Ranong.

He is the fourth son of Phraya Damrong Sucharit Mahison Phakdi (Khaw Soo Cheang) who was the first one of na Ranong family and he was assigned to become the first governor of Ranong Province. His mother’s name is Kim. He was born at Ranong Province in 1857 and he followed his father going to China in 1867 for vacation and making merit for his ancestor. In this occasion he had a chance to study at Zhangzhou, China before coming back to help his father’s work at Ranong Province. In 1882 after Phraya Damrong Sucharit Mahison Phakdi (Khaw Soo Cheang) death, his brother led him to be a guardsman of King Rama V and he was assigned to be the governor of Saraburi Province. In 1890 King Rama V went to Kraburi Province which was located in the South. The king saw that Khaw Sin Bee na Ranong had ability in administration. So he was assigned to be the governor of Trang Province instead Phraya Trang Phumiphiban (Iam na Nakhon) who was assigned to be the governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. Moreover, he was promoted from Phra Asadongkhot Thisaraksa to Phraya Ratsadanupradit Mahison Phakdi. Afterwards, King Rama V assigned him to be a Commissioner of Monthon Phuket which had 7 territories; Phuket, Trang, Pang-nga, Krabi, Takuapa, Ranong and Satun, while Phra Sathon Sathanphitak (Yu Kiead na Ranong) who was an adopted son of Phraya Damrong Sucharit Mahison Phakdi (Khaw Soo Cheang) was assigned to be the governor of Trang Province instead. Furthermore, Phra Sathon Sathanphitak was one of the important persons concerning about bringing rubber trees planted in Thailand. Phraya Ratsadanupradit died at Baan Chakkraphong, Penang on 10th April, 1913.

That time he was 56 years old. He was shot by Doctor Jan Boriban with his pistal at Chaofa Bridge, Kantang Port. The Beginning of Rubber in Thailand The idea to bring rubber trees planted in Thailand was first thought when Phraya Ratsadanupradit Mahison Phakdi visited Malaysia. He saw the Malays planting rubber trees and they produced the good productivity. So he was interested to take rubber trees planted in Thailand but at that time the owner of rubber plantations did not want to give him the rubber breed. In 1901 Phra Sathon Sathanphitak visited Indonesia and could bring rubber seedlings which their roots were wrapped by moistened cotton and wrapped again with the newspaper before containing into rain tree wooden boxes. Then he came back Thailand immediately by his personal steam boat. There were 4 wooden boxes of rubber seedlings which were planted in front of Phra Sathon Sathanphitak’ s house at Kantang District, Trang Province.
Nowadays, there is only one left in front of the Agricultural Cooperative. Phra Sathon Sathanphitak expanded the planting area about 45 plantations. It could be considered that Phra Sathon Sathanphitak was the first rubber plantation owner of Thailand. After that Phraya Ratsadanupradit sent the group of Provincial Governors, Marshals, Village Chiefs, and Headmen going to study the method of rubber growing abroad. Then he assigned them to teach and support about rubber growing and rubber seedlings contribution. It could be said that this time was an era of rubber booming which called "Tesa Rubber” Now rubber trees were planted in the South and the East which there are about 9 million plantations owned by 5 hundred thousand families. Rubber is significant to be an economic plant of Thailand after rice. It makes income for the country about billions baht per year. So Phraya Ratsadanupradit Mahison Phakdi was praised to be the "Father of Rubber”.

Phraya Ratsadanupradit Mahison Phakdi devoted himself to his work. He took care of people’s problems and dared to punish the ones who did wrong while the ones who did the good things would be rewarded. He tried to bring the new technologies coming back to Thailand to promote and support people in the country. In addition, he supported the policy that allowed foreigners coming to invest in Thailand. He made a deal of exchange condition which was good for public. This was a great deal of benefits until now.
A monument commemorating him was erected in Tub-Thiang District, Trang Province and it was celebrated on 8th April 1951 after his 39 years death. Moreover, the streets in Phuket Province, Trang Province, and Kantang District were named after Phraya Ratsadanupradit such as Ratsada Street, and Ratsadanupradit Street to celebrate his fame.
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