The Creative Economy Policy Adopted to Add Value to Farm Products

The Ministry of Science and Technology has adopted the Government’s policy of creative economy to add value to agricultural commodities and create new products.

The Spokesman of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Phoomsan Seneewong Na Ayudhaya, said that the creative economy approach is being used as a guideline for developing 30 science and technology prototype villages, based on “cultural capital” and Thai ways of living. The objectives are to reduce production costs, generate employment and income, and improve the people’s quality of life.

The spokesman said that the development of the prototype villages is part of a project to make the Ministry’s research and development work respond better to the real needs of communities. The project also aims to increase the country’s research and development fund from 0.25 percent to 1 percent of GDP, the policy given by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

He cited the science and technology prototype village in Bo Klueadistrict of Nan province as an example, saying that the Ministry had transferred farming techniques to this village. As a result, this village is able to increase rice production from 100 kilograms to 350 kilograms for an area of one rai, or 0.4 acres, and local people are able to earn more income.

Moreover, he said, after their rice farming, local villagers have been urged to plant various crops, such as wheat, tomatoes, and mushrooms, in order to increase their earnings on top of rice cultivation. The Ministry has also promoted chicken-raising in the natural farm system, so that villagers have a revolving fund for use among themselves. In order for villagers to reduce expenditure, the Ministry has transferred to them the biomass technology to produce alternative fuel and the knowledge of improving cooking stoves for the efficient use of energy. Other activities involve introducing household accountancy and processing wheat into a new health product to bring down hypertension.

As for water management based on the creative economy approach, the Ministry has transferred information technology to a village in Nang Rong district of Buri Ram province, which was faced with drought. The move led to the building of more community water storage sites and the planning of agricultural production in line with water management.

Minister of Science and Technology Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich had proposed that the public and private sectors cooperate in science and technology to enhance Thailand’s competitiveness under the Joint Public/Private Sector Consultative Committee. The proposal was approved by the Cabinet on 11 August 2009, and the Consultative Committee is prepared to set up a company to select research in science and technology for use to help develop small and medium-sized enterprises, so that they enjoy added value in their production with lower costs.