Thailand hopes to become Asean's Leader In Organic Farming

Deputy government spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek says the government places emphasis on encouraging organic farming for both farmers and domestic consumers.

Organic products have become worldwide popular with a global valuation in excess of US$ 100 billion. Europe and North America are major markets, while China, Australia and Asia are also on the rise. The domestic market value of organic farming products amounts to Baht 3 billion, and the export value, Baht 2 billion.

The National Organic Farming Commission has met to reflect on various issues, according to the deputy government spokesperson, and the results are as follows:

The meeting approved an action plan on organic farming with the integrative operation of 7 ministries, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Public Health, and Ministry of Industry.

The plan aims to achieve three strategies:

1) Encouraging organic farming research and development, knowledge building and dissemination.

2) Grow and service organic farming products.

3) Developing markets and rising standards of organic farming at Community, national, and ASEAN level. Countries have agreed to establish a Mutual Recognition Arrangement for Organic Agriculture, in which 209 projects for a total budget of 1.9 billion Baht will be introduced in 2021.

The Deputy Government spokesperson added that the government is striving to encourage the consumption of organic products in schools , medical facilities, hotels , and restaurants, as well as organic farming in the private, state-allocated, and developed farmland of both farmers.

Organic rice production, which has grown over 300,000 rai nationally, is an example of a successful initiative. We urge farmers to turn to organic farming, while this Government will provide assistance in the upstream phase ( e.g., microbial pesticide, manufacturing quality enhancement, laboratory enhancement), midstream (e.g. product procurement, logistics system improvement) and downstream (e.g., market connection, online delivery, road shows, business matching).