Although commodities exports account for only 10-12 per cent of Thailand's country's gross domestic product (GDP), the farm sector's importance has become pronounced during the crisis.

The sector not only provides a safety net for the country at a time when the unemployment rate is soaring as economic turmoil triggers an avalanche of bankruptcies, the resilient sector might also be able to help stimulate domestic demand.

Farmers' incomes in 1998 have been boosted by the weaker baht and an extraordinary increase in rice demand. Rice was one of the few commodities this year that enjoyed robust prices.

Thailand is the world's top exporter of rice and a leading exporter of sugar, rubber, tapioca and shrimps.

But analysts said the farm sector was unlikely to see two goldenyears in a row. Farmers are likely to be hit by a double whammy next year as world rice demand drops and the baht firms.

"The problem is posing a serious social threat to the government. Although the farm sector accounts for only around 10 per cent of GDP, it employs almost 50 per cent of the workforce," said Supavud Sacheau, an economist at Merrill Lynch.

"With the economy yet to fully recover and the world economy expected to grow at a slower pace next year, Thailand will still need a solid farm sector as a cushion," he said.

Merrill Lynch forecasts that the world economy will grow by 1.2 per cent in 1999 versus 1.7 per cent seen this year.

Growth in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries next year is projected at 1.1 per cent from 1.9 per cent forecast for 1998.

Experts forecast that the world rice import demand next year could drop between 3.75-6.75 million tonnes from a record 26.75 million tonne seen this year.

Drought caused by the El Nino phenomenon ravagedrice crops in many countries and sent rice imports soaring in 1997 and 1998.

Resumption of normal weather patterns should cause world rice trade to shrink and rice prices are expected to fall in line with softer demand. Traders predicted that rice prices could drop by at least 10 per cent from the 1998 level.

Sugar, another key export from Thailand, is unlikely to see any major reprieve early next year as Indonesia, the biggest Asian sugar buyer this year, has front-loaded its imports and therefore might not need to commit to its usual buying programme from January and May, analysts said.

The International Sugar Organisation (ISO) says the world sugar price turnaround might not take place until the 1999/2000 crop cycle.

As for rubber, the International Natural Rubber Organisation forecasts that it saw no real or substantial improvement in rubber prices until mid-1999 or later.

Merrill Lynch's Supavud forecast that the first and second quarter of next year would be a critical time for the Thai farmsector and the government because of commodities problems, especially in the rice industry.

"The prices are expected to be lower than this year. The baht is stronger and therefore will generate less income in baht terms. The output itself is forecast to be low due to pest outbreak and lack of water," he said.

"This means farmers will receive less income from selling less rice at lower prices," he said.

Vichai Sriprasert, president of the rice exporting firm Riceland International, told Reuters rice mills and exporters were being hit by liquidity problems as commercial banks were reluctant to lend.

"Mills have no money to buy rice from farmers because exporters who lost money from rice trade delayed the payment.

"They were both to blame. Commercial banks were reluctant to lend to them because they had misused the rice loans in the past by investing in the loss-making property sector," he said.

"If mills have no money, farmers will be directly affected because mills buy paddy from them," hesaid.

Arporn Chewakengkrai, an economic advisor to Thai prime minister Chuan Leekpai, told Reuters the government was mapping out measures to help mitigate the impact of the lower commodity prices and stronger baht.

"The government is working to ensure sufficient credits to the farm and agribusiness sectors. It has set a guaranteed price for paddy and will look for ways to provide additional incomes for farmers," she said.