Thailand - Innovation networks for sustainable agriculture
Promoting innovative solutions for strengthening the sustainability of agricultural production and management systems
The Agriculture in Thailand
Thai farms are still predominantly small and medium sized. Structural change is imminent in the coming years, as farm managers are ageing and the profitability of small-scale farming is insufficient to maintain the farms. Soil fertility is declining due to inappropriate management practices and overuse of agrochemicals. Farmers lack the knowledge to minimise the environmental impact of farming or to mitigate the risks deriving from Climate Change.
The Project
The project contributes to the efforts of the Thai Government to transform the Thai agriculture and food sector. It builds networks of Thai and foreign technology and service partners, farmers, and other stakeholders, in important value chains of the country to implement and showcase innovative solutions based on the concept of agroecology improving the sustainability of agricultural value chains in Thailand. The results of the demonstrations will be made available to all networks partners and beyond to increase the adoption of these innovations and thus the sustainability of Thai agricultural production.
Project Goals
• Build networks of technology and service partners, farmers, and other stakeholders in important value chains of Thailand,
• Link suppliers and potential users of sustainable innovations,
• Jointly develop, implement and showcase selected sustainable innovations,
• Disseminate information on sustainable solutions and promoting their implementation by other network members.
Results and Successes
The Project will increase the efficiency of the use of farm inputs and the farm productivity through increasing the mechanisation and digitalization of the agricultural production. It will reduce the particulate matter pollution from burning of crop residues through increasing alternative use of the residues and it will increase soil fertility through promotion of agroecological practices.
The project began its work on 1 January 2024. It builds on the findings of the first German-Thai bilateral cooperation project, which was successfully completed on
31 December 2023.
Project Partners and Cooperations
• Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC):
–Bureau of Foreign Agricultural Affairs (BOFAA),
–Department of Agricultural Extension (DOAE),
• Network of technology, knowledge and service providers in Thailand and abroad,
• Innovative Thai farmer and farmer groups,
• Other stakeholders of agricultural value chains in Thailand.
Project Partner on Operational Level
Department of Agricultural Extension (DOAE) of MOAC
2143/1 Phaholyothin Road, Chatuchak District, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Implementing Organisation
Consortium of GOPA AFC GmbH (AFC) and DLG International GmbH (DLG)
Address
Deutsch-thailändisches Kooperationsprojekt zur Stärkung der Nachhaltigkeit von Agrarsystemen durch Innovationsnetzwerke
c/o Department of Agricultural Extension (DOAE) of MOAC
Phaholyothin Road 2143/1
10900 Bangkok
Thailand
