Articles
USE OF STRAWBERRY AS A TOOL TO DEVELOP A COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE CAN LIVE HARMONIOUSLY WITH THE FOREST IN THE NORTHEAST AREA OF THAILAND
Article number
926_106
Pages
733 – 735
Language
English
Abstract
King Mongkuts University of Technology Thonburi in collaboration with the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology have launched the project to develop careers and quality of life among agriculturists in Thai-Laos-buffering border villages Loei Province.
The mentioned villages also reside in national park territory allowing to explore the target for people to live together with the forest.
The area is located at 900-1000 m height a.s.l.
The strawberry has high economic value but requires much delicate care and needs only small growing space reducing the need to clear forest land.
Therefore, since 1996, there has been the promotion for career development through methods and steps as follows: 1. To give agriculturists knowledge regarding horticultural crop production.
Previously, agriculturists are only used to plant field crops such as corn. 2. To supply strawberry plants as a production factor. 3. To continuously develop technology which suits the combination between land and agriculture such as selecting the appropriate cultivar, applying drip irrigation to enhance the efficiency of water supply and fertilizer application as well as technology used after harvest and packaging phase. 4. To use participatory manage¬ment to form a group of strawberry producers.
Therefore, a fund has been established by obtaining money from a production charge to subsidize the project for its first phase.
Consequently, it provides the group with adequate circulating money for production in the next coming years.
The project has gradually developed agriculturists ability to produce strawberry at satisfactory quality.
It can generate revenues given to members for more than 300,000 baht per year.
The project also elevates production capability to support tourism activities.
It creates circulating revenues in the villages for more than 550,000 baht per year.
It brings sustainable revenues to agriculturists and helps reduce forest encroachment.
The mentioned villages also reside in national park territory allowing to explore the target for people to live together with the forest.
The area is located at 900-1000 m height a.s.l.
The strawberry has high economic value but requires much delicate care and needs only small growing space reducing the need to clear forest land.
Therefore, since 1996, there has been the promotion for career development through methods and steps as follows: 1. To give agriculturists knowledge regarding horticultural crop production.
Previously, agriculturists are only used to plant field crops such as corn. 2. To supply strawberry plants as a production factor. 3. To continuously develop technology which suits the combination between land and agriculture such as selecting the appropriate cultivar, applying drip irrigation to enhance the efficiency of water supply and fertilizer application as well as technology used after harvest and packaging phase. 4. To use participatory manage¬ment to form a group of strawberry producers.
Therefore, a fund has been established by obtaining money from a production charge to subsidize the project for its first phase.
Consequently, it provides the group with adequate circulating money for production in the next coming years.
The project has gradually developed agriculturists ability to produce strawberry at satisfactory quality.
It can generate revenues given to members for more than 300,000 baht per year.
The project also elevates production capability to support tourism activities.
It creates circulating revenues in the villages for more than 550,000 baht per year.
It brings sustainable revenues to agriculturists and helps reduce forest encroachment.
Authors
P. Tongtraibhop , T. Thongthieng
Keywords
strawberry, community development
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