FINISHED on 14 September 2021
CONTEXT
Approximately 26% of the overall Thai population are engaged in farming. Many farmers, especially small-scale famers, lack knowledge on sustainable rice farming practices. As a result, they often apply too much fertilizer and unnecessary amounts of pesticides, purchase inputs of questionable quality and use a wasteful amount of seeds. The production costs are therefore higher and the net income decreases.
Additionally, one of several threats faced by Thai rice farmers is losses in rice production due to pests. In Thailand disastrous attacks of planthoppers, amongst other pests, have resulted in severe crop loss. These attacks have partly been due to the indiscriminate use of pesticides and poor pest management.
OBJECTIVE
To encourage farmers to deal with pests more strategically (by assessing the pest and disease status of the farm and selecting the best suitable pest management practice) and use of Personal Protection Equipment
APPROACHES
In Thailand, CropLife International is a private sector partner in the Market-Oriented Smallholder Value Chain (MSVC) project to provide expertise and support for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in the Central Plains. The project builds on the methodology and materials developed during the BRIA Vietnam Phase I Project and is therefore an extension of the current project to demonstrate that the approach taken is effective for different socio-economic and geographical conditions.
The project will train farmers in IPM, including the responsible use of pesticides and alternatives such as biocontrol agents. People working on the farm will also be trained in how to apply and manage pesticides. Furthermore, pesticide retailers will be trained in IPM, responsible pesticide use and promotion of products as well as Personal Protective Equipment. By the end of the project, 3,500 farmers and at least 400 pesticide retailers/IPM service providers, will be directly and seasonally trained by the farmer school together with the project.
RESULTS SO FAR
- 1,270 direct farmers in Suphanburi have been trained in IPM. 52.83% of trained farmers were women and 47.17% of trained farmers were men.
- 27 Community Pest Management Centres (CPMC) have been established in Suphanburi in order to transfer IPM knowledge to neighbouring farmers.
- 4,351 indirect farmers in Central Plain and Northeast of Thailand gained IPM knowledge
FINANCED BY
- The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
- CropLife International
COUNTRY
Thailand
PROJECT PARTNERS
Crop Life International, Olam International, Thai Rice Department, Department of Agriculture Extension
PROJECT DURATION
10/2018 – 09/2021
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PROJECT
- รักตัวเอง รักข้าว รักโลก การจัดการศัตรูข้าวด้วยวิธีผสมผสาน IPM
- รักตัวเอง รักข้าว รักโลก การจัดการศัตรูข้าวด้วยวิธีผสมผสาน IPM [English Subtitle]
MORE INFORMATION
BRIA – IPM Thailand | Sustainable Agrifood System in ASEAN (asean-agrifood.org)