SEDD GM Visit to Thailand

In December last year the Yayasan SabahGroupManager,Socio-Economic Development, Encik Raja Indran, was one of two Malaysians given the opportunity to study programmes undertaken by the Community Integrated Rural Development [CBIRD] at Nang Rong of the Buriram Province, Thailand.

The eight-day study tour was sponsored by the CIDA of Canada.

According to En. Raja, the purpose of the tour were mainly to study the community basedpeople oriented programmes; to learn "first-hand" Canajian-funded successful programme to eradicate rural poverty; to study a project that fulfils human resource development components; and to provide linkages and networking opportunities to Malaysia NGOsinvolved in similar activity.

When asked what he had learned from the trip Encik Raja said the CBIRD, Nang Rong Centre provides administration, training, support services and management for about 48 villages, through its field officers.

"Staff in cooperation with the experts from relevant agencies provide training in agriculture, ·1rming, industrial skill, cooperative development and business management on an ongoing basis throughout the year as and when needed," he explained.

He said the centre provides storage facilities for storage and distribution of fertilizers, seeds/ seedlings, tools and other necessities.

The centre, En. Raja said, generates income to finance itself and its various activities. At the village level, he said, volunteers and CBIRD Extension staff carry out education, family planning and basic preventive health care programmes. They also implement environmental sanitation activities towards improving village hygiene. Large rain-water catchment tanks and gaint water jars are supplied or subsidized to store safe drinking water during the dry season. Low cost latrines are also constructed towards improving village health. Village level activities Toimprovecropproduction,villagersaretaught to raise supplementary crops, diversify farming practices, usequality seedand soforth. Animal husbandry is introduced with revolving funds provided by CBIRD to increase supplementary agricultural income from non-crop sources. Small scale collage industries are also introduced with start-up capital being provided for silk, collon, basket weaving, food processing etc.

Industrial development CBIRD has assisted in establishing small, medium and large scale industries. These industries process localcrops, provide dry season non-farm employment, raise level of individuals skills and most importantly stimulate private sectors' interest in local development. CBIRD identifies potential entreprenuers, contacts local industrialists, conducts feasibility studies, provides marketing and managerial training and financial support for this purpose.

The TBIRD programme Through the TBIRD [Thai Business Initiative In Rural Development] programme, the urbanbased business initiatives have been successfully drawnintoparticipatinginthisnoblepeople development programme. Expertise and skills from profitmotivated organisations are shared with the rural poorwhere thebusiness community is invited to assist in specific areas such as marketing, financing, business managementand production technology.

EnterprisessuchasBATA, SINGER, AlA and American Express are actively involved, contributing to the economic growth in Thailand's rural areas.

Commumity Integrated Rural Development [CBIRDl In Nang Rong the CBIRD is supported by CIDA of Canada through a budget contribution of about CN$2.8 million over a periodoffiveyearssinceApril 1984.

Initially, 40 villagers were selected basedonpoverty, size and accessibility for this purpose. They were supported in terms of administering the project by the government and non-government organisations' staff.

The CBIRD project was aimed at improvingthe quality of life of the poor villagers by increasing individual family income, improving their health and hygiene, and improving their knowledge on profession, citizenship, love of country, religion, morality, culture, heritage and traditions.

TheSEDDGroupManagerobserved thatCBIRD haseffectively assisted the ruralpooringenerating more income through animal husbandry, crop cultivation and cloth industry as well as improving their health and hygiene.

Encik Raja believed that this programme can be duplicated taking into account the sensitivity of the local traditions, cultural beliefs, leadership structure and resources.

The CBIRD is similar to Yayasan's People Development which focuses on total human development where growth and development potentials ofthe individual canbe integratedwith the existing business and socio-cultural selling.