Deep Roots

Rice farming will provide all year round food for the family. It is the main

concept of ‘New Theory’ agriculture. This is also to reduce expenditure and

increase self-reliance

Fruit trees, perennial trees, vegetables, field crops, herbs, etc. to be used for

daily food, with the surplus to be sold as a source of additional family income;

while vetiver grass is for soil and water conservation

[

] 250

for timber, one for fruits and one for firewood, all of which

would yield benefits to the people in a symbiotic manner. In

addition to these, the fourth benefit is the conservation of

soil and water.

Linkages between the community and other parties are

encouraged, in order to share and involve others in the

development of sustainable agriculture.

In order to strengthen the contribution of family farming,

the empowerment of farm women is crucial factor. Farm

women are important family members who make decisions,

carry on agricultural production processes, and manage

food consumption and household expenses. Thailand has

prioritized and concretely included rural farm women in

development policy, focusing on:

• recognizing farm women as agricultural producers

• enabling women to participate in family farming as

the partners of men in terms of the decision-making

process, planning, access and utilization of resources

and technology adoption

• enabling farm women to access credit and other

support services

• encouraging the establishment of farm women’s

organizations and networks to organize agricultural

processing and value-added activities to generate

family income and decrease household expenses

• assigning officials to be responsible for the

development of farm women.

Thailand stresses the importance of encouraging young

farmers and farm youth to follow in the footsteps of their

parents and engage in farm occupations. Policy has been

focused on building up a good attitude towards agriculture

and creativity in leadership of the farm business among

young farmers, both in school and outside school. In addi-

tion, the Young Smart Farmer project has been initiated in

order to motivate young farmers to carry out family farming

for self-sufficiency while taking into account increased

competitiveness.

The participatory approach is the key concept of agricultural

extension nowadays, and information communication tech-

nology is the main tool for handling any process. Important

mechanisms for rural agricultural development include coop-

eration with mutual-interest networks (public and private

organizations, local government units and other organiza-

tions) as well as partnerships (such as local leaders, local

experts, agriculture village volunteers, smart farmers, youth,

occupation groups and community enterprises). Farmers

are encouraged to share their needs, interests, knowledge,

resources and problems to formulate a community develop-

ment plan. Subsequently, the extension agents will facilitate

the proper interventions by sharing experiences, imparting

new technologies or skills, and exploring new information and

other farming approaches to improve productivity and quality

of life. The sufficiency economy learning centre and agricul-

tural productivity learning centre, located in the village, are

learning areas for local farmers. Meanwhile, the agricultural

service centre at district level provides agricultural services to

farmers and the general public.

His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand has

adhered to his ideal in relentlessly devoting himself to the well-

being of the Thai people. The main aim of this development

work is to enable people to have enough to live on and to eat

and to become self-reliant. There are 4,100 royal development

projects covering several areas. Moreover, His Majesty initiated

the establishment of six Royal Development Study Centres in all

regions throughout Thailand. These provide a place for study

and experimentation, enabling the successful development of

models for various aspects before demonstrating and dissemi-

nating the knowledge to farmers and the general public. Farmers

and the public can then use these models as development guide-

lines for earning their daily living, especially engaging in family

farming for self-reliance and a better quality of life.

Image: MOAC – Thailand

eep

oots