FIELD DATA COLLECTION ON COLLECTIVE ACTION BY ORGANIC JASMINE RICE PRODUCER GROUPS IN NORTHEASTERN THAILAND
AIT Research Theme: Food-Energy-Water
AIT Unit: NRM & DSP / DDS/ SERD
Project Duration: July 2022 to December 2025
Project Sponsors/Clients: IDE-JETRO (Institute of Developing Economies - Japan External Trade Organization)
Project Partner: Kobe University, Chulalongkorn University.
Expected Social Impact:
⏵ Enhanced knowledge of the stagnant dissemination of organic practices for jasmine rice.
⏵ Increased adoption of organic certificates for rice production.
⏵ Increased income for smallholder farmers through price premium.
⏵ Improved health among smallholders farmers due to reduced application of synthetic inputs such as herbicide and insecticide.
⏵ Improved health among domestic and foreign consumers through consumption of organic food.
Description:
Following the preliminary field visits conducted in 2022 in Roi Et Province, the team of researchers from AIT and Kobe University proceeded to Nakhon Phanom Province in January 2023 to conduct key informant interviews with the Rice Department officials and leaders of different farmer groups with export-standard and Thai-standard organic certificates. Thereafter, the survey instrument was developed and the survey was conducted with 384 farm households in Nakhon Phanom Province and Roi Et Province from March to May 2023.
THE INVESTIGATION OF PRIVATE-SECTOR INPUT SUPPLIERS AND OUTPUT BUYERS THAT MAY BENEFIT FROM THE PROJECT INTERVENTIONS ON CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE, HIGHVALUE CROPS, AND PRODUCT QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
AIT Research Theme: Food-Energy-Water
AIT Unit: NRM/DDS/SERD; FINH/DFAB/SERD
Project Duration: January 2021 to September 2024
Project Sponsors/Clients: Asian Development Bank - Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific (ADB-JFPR)
Project Partners: Nippon Koei, Team Group.
Description:
A field visit was undertaken in Nan Province by two experts, Takuji W. Tsusaka (AIT) and Siriluck Sirisup (Team Group), along with three Ph.D students, Kittipan Tikum, Nitchakan Inkong, and Jarunee Intrasook to explore and identify private-sector input suppliers and output buyers that would benefit from the interventions by the Technical Assistance (TA) project “Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture for Enhanced Recovery and Sustainability of Highlands.”
The objectives of the field mission were as follows:
⏵ To update the list of relevant input suppliers and output buyers such as input dealers, farmer enterprises, and processors.
⏵ To obtain information on the latest requirements for the GAP (Good Agricultural Practice) and PGS (Participatory Guarantee System).
⏵ To investigate the potential for some of the input suppliers to benefit from the TA interventions (i.e., climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices, high-value crops, product quality improvement).
⏵ To investigate the potential for some of the community enterprises and processors to benefit from the TA interventions.
⏵ To examine how farmers and community enterprises assess the quality and safety of their products as well as their current knowledge of good practices.
The in-depth interview method was adopted in light of the limited population size of relevant companies and the necessity for the exploratory inquiry. The interview checklists were prepared for each type of respondents. The selection of input suppliers was based on their relevance to the three CSA practices and/or the connection with TA farmers, while the selection of output processors was based on their relevance to the six strategic crops of the TA. On one occasion, a focus group discussion was held with five herb producing farmers. In addition, 20 farmers in the TA were interviewed using a structured instrument to assess their capacity for food safety management.
Web links:
The project abstract.
� https://www.adb.org/projects/53099-001/main
The post for this activity
� http://www.ccaa.ait.ac.th/field-visit-undertakento-identify-buyers-and-suppliers-in-bua-yaisubdistrict/
ENHANCING SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR URBAN POOR: A COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION BY
AIT AND FRIEDRICH-EBERTSTIFTUNG
24 August 2023 – The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), in collaboration with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Thailand Office, organized a roundtable discussion on the ‘Effectiveness of Social Protection Programmes and Policies for Urban Poor in Bangkok Metropolitan Area’ on August 24 in Bangkok.
The discussion brought together experts from various multi-stakeholder groups, including Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), development partners, private organizations, academicians, and representatives from the central and local government. The primary objective of the AIT-FES partnership is to discuss the adequacy of benefits, and inequality in access, coverage, and management of social assistance programs, especially for disaggregated groups like women and children.
Furthermore, this collaboration seeks to uncover untapped opportunities to modernize the level of benefits of social assistance packages and efficiency. Ultimately, the collaboration aims to formulate policy recommendations for the government, aimed at fostering a more equitable and inclusive approach to accessing social protection programs that benefit disaggregated population groups.
Prof. Vilas Nitivattananon from AIT’s Urban Innovation and Sustainability (UIS) program of the School of Environment Resource and Development (SERD) delivered the welcome remarks. Ms. Vesna Rodić, Resident Director, FES Thailand, and Dr. Malay Pramanik, Assistant Professor, UIS, SERD, AIT, both underscored their commitment to driving this initiative forward. Both AIT and FES are committed to formulating practical and effective policy options catered to various arms of the Government to make social protection programs more inclusive and viable for segments of the population that have long been marginalized.
The discussions featured multiple sessions, with one being moderated by Dr. Ing Rattikarn Khambud, an Urban/ National Spatial Planner from the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning, Ministry of Interior, Thailand. Dr. Khambud shed light on issues pertaining to adequacy, inequality, and management of existing social protection and welfare schemes. Another session delved into policy adequacy across various sectors and groups.
The projects will explore the following areas:
⏵ Current issues pertaining to the areas of social assistance programs and discuss possible solutions for improving current policies available for the urban poor;
⏵ Identify ways for improving access and coverage of social safety net programs for the inclusivity of urban poor;
⏵ Strengthen partnerships of the state and non-state actors in Thailand working towards urban and social safety net policy regimes.
AIT EXTENSION’S CSR CAMPAIGN, “DONATION FOR GREENER COMMUNITY,”
The AIT Extension’s CSR campaign, “Donation for Greener Community,” successfully concluded on September 19, 2023, having run from August 18, 2023. The campaign aimed to promote sustainability and reduce environmental waste by encouraging the AIT community to donate unused items to those in need.
To facilitate participation, the campaign established four convenient donation points across campus:
⏵ Donation Center behind the Purchasing Office at the Administration Building, near the football field, open from 10:00 to 14:30 hrs.
⏵ Dormitory P near the stairway, accessible at any time.
⏵ ST6 near the notice board, accessible at any time.
⏵ AIT Cafeteria, accessible at any time.
The campaign encouraged donations of a wide range of items, including new and gently used clothing, shoes, bed sheets, pillows, hand bags, appliances, crockery, cutlery, utensils, books, DVDs, sporting goods, and toys. Participants were instructed to pack items in bags or boxes and contact the organizers for larger items.
The donated items were collected and organized for distribution to The Mirror Foundation, a local charity dedicated to supporting vulnerable communities. The campaign’s collection exceeded expectations, with the AIT community contributing a substantial amount of reusable items.
The success of the campaign demonstrated the AIT community’s strong commitment to social responsibility and sustainability. By donating unused items, participants helped reduce waste and support those in need. The
campaign also fostered a sense of community and collaboration among AIT members, who worked together to achieve a common goal.
FIVE MASTERS STUDENTS RECEIVE THE PAN MERIT EDUCATION GROUP SCHOLARSHIPS
Pan Merit Education Group and the Asian Institute of Technology signed an agreement on 28 December 2021 to support 5 Million Baht towards 5 Full Master’s scholarships to students of any nationality enrolled in any program of the three schools: School of Engineering & Technology (SET), School of Environment, Resources & Development (SERD), and School of Management (SOM). The scholarship recipients are called “AIT Pan Merit Belt and Road Scholars”.
After vigorous assessment/ interviews, these scholarships were awarded to Ayesha Kiran from Pakistan enrolled online in Food Engineering & Bioprocess Technology, SERD (January 2022 intake) and currently in Pakistan; Cho Lei Yee Win from Myanmar enrolled in Business
Administration, SOM and John Francis Viloria Pedroso from Philippines enrolled in Water Engineering & Management, SET (August 2022 intake); Talengi Kasambara from Malawi and Jayanga Nishadi Samararathna Kodikara from Sri Lanka, both enrolled in Water Engineering & Management, SET (January 2023 intake).
Pan Merit Education Group has been focused on aviation education and related industries for nearly 30 years. In recent years, the Pan Merit layout integrated two wings of
the core development strategy. Explore the collectivized development idea of “Education plus Industry.”
AIT President Kazuo Yamamoto expressed his sincere thanks to Pan Merit for these scholarships which will enable these students to further pursue their academic studies at AIT that would benefit them in their future careers. The Institute very much appreciates the scholarships provided by Pan Merit Education Group.
