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Published on January 21, 2008

Started in 2004, the GTZ's Thai project runs to 2011.

It focuses on improving crops in many areas such as quality and yield through better farm management. The German government has provided financial support of ¤3.5 million (Bt171 million) per year.

Jim Tomecko, director for the business and financial services

component of GTZ, said the priority crops under the programme were palms, shrimp, cassava, fruits and vegetables.

The programme has been designed to work closely with farmers to achieve maximum benefits and also strengthen their competitiveness. Each crop has its own development objectives.

Thailand is the world's fifth-largest food exporter and the government's "Kitchen of the World" policy has increased the country's farm exports, Tomecko said.

GTZ aims to increase the yield and oil extraction rate for oil palms, which now are inferior to Malaysia and Indonesia.

In the beginning, 200 farmers joined the project to be trained and learn more about scientific methods and farm management. Enrolment in the project for export markets has now reached 2,000 farmers.

Shrimp, fruit and vegetable farmers will be encouraged to concentrate on food safety, organic methods and environmental safety and productivity, while tapioca flour mills will work on reducing starch loss during the processing of cassava.

The programme also helps farmers add value to their products. Cassava growers will eventually have to develop bioplastic products, which GTZ has studied with the National Innovation Agency.

Small and medium-scale fruit and vegetable farms have enjoyed smoother access to the EU market under the programme, Tomecko said.

 "The successful project has sharply increased their farm prices by 50 per cent and their incomes by 20-30 per cent," he said.

Some courses target supplying the domestic market. The main customers are Tesco Lotus, Carrefour, Big C, Tops Supermarket and 7-Eleven. These partners have jointly developed standards to meet market demand.

"GTZ's objective is to address sustainable systems, fairness and income, which are important factors for farmers to survive. GTZ will act as the opener for Thai farmers to enter the EU market," he added.

Achara Pongvutitham

The Nation