At the Prince Palace Hotel, recently, the Office of the NESDB organized a workshop, entitled "Development Strategies and Guidelines for Agro-Industry during the Eighth Plan Period." There were of about 100 participants at the workshop, represented by relevant government agencies, academic professors, private sector, farmers and the press.
The workshop, under a brainstorming approach, was aimed at seeking proper development strategies and guidelines for agro-industry to be incorporated into the Eighth Plan. Centain issues raised at the workshop consisted of opportunity for new product lines with sound production potential, opportunity for new export markets, and the joint public and private assistance for production network of farmers.
Recommendations raised in the workshop could be summarized as follows:
1. There are still plenty of opportunity for Thailand's agro- industrial development, especially food industry, given domestic purchasing power of the people and production capacity.
2. At an area level, the plan connot effectively be translated into action, without a directly responsible agency, so the government services in this regard cannot be properly delivered to farmers.
3. Regarding community business development, relevant authorities should take into account certain restrictions facing villagers, such as the lack of capital and managerial skills.
4. Regional agro-industrial promotion, provided by the government sector, still focuses on production promotion, regardless of research and development in terms of marketing and product designs consistent with the market demand. Villagers, furthermore, lack knowledge for new investment opportunities.
5. The central planning and the implementation process are inconsistent: thus the agro-industrial development is not in line with the changing economic situations.
6. As for industrial decentralization, there should be certain measures to encourage and urge farmers to upgrade their managerial skill and competency to become entrepreneurs, not only the subcontractors at the moment.
7. Industrial standardization should be highly respected among cottage industries, as, in the near future, producers have to be accountable for their own consumers, whereas the linkages of processing industries between households and factories will be increasingly promoted.
Farmers, according to the participants, should be encouraged to take a greater role in the production process. Besides, some obsolete rules and regulations as related to agro-industrial activities should be revamped, and farmers should be provided with training for know-how in processing industries, as to upgade their capability in this regard. These will eventually lead to active implementation of the above agro-industrial development strategies and guidelines as designated in the Eighth Plan.
--Development News Bulletin, National Economic and Social Development Board, Volume 11, No. 2--
The workshop, under a brainstorming approach, was aimed at seeking proper development strategies and guidelines for agro-industry to be incorporated into the Eighth Plan. Centain issues raised at the workshop consisted of opportunity for new product lines with sound production potential, opportunity for new export markets, and the joint public and private assistance for production network of farmers.
Recommendations raised in the workshop could be summarized as follows:
1. There are still plenty of opportunity for Thailand's agro- industrial development, especially food industry, given domestic purchasing power of the people and production capacity.
2. At an area level, the plan connot effectively be translated into action, without a directly responsible agency, so the government services in this regard cannot be properly delivered to farmers.
3. Regarding community business development, relevant authorities should take into account certain restrictions facing villagers, such as the lack of capital and managerial skills.
4. Regional agro-industrial promotion, provided by the government sector, still focuses on production promotion, regardless of research and development in terms of marketing and product designs consistent with the market demand. Villagers, furthermore, lack knowledge for new investment opportunities.
5. The central planning and the implementation process are inconsistent: thus the agro-industrial development is not in line with the changing economic situations.
6. As for industrial decentralization, there should be certain measures to encourage and urge farmers to upgrade their managerial skill and competency to become entrepreneurs, not only the subcontractors at the moment.
7. Industrial standardization should be highly respected among cottage industries, as, in the near future, producers have to be accountable for their own consumers, whereas the linkages of processing industries between households and factories will be increasingly promoted.
Farmers, according to the participants, should be encouraged to take a greater role in the production process. Besides, some obsolete rules and regulations as related to agro-industrial activities should be revamped, and farmers should be provided with training for know-how in processing industries, as to upgade their capability in this regard. These will eventually lead to active implementation of the above agro-industrial development strategies and guidelines as designated in the Eighth Plan.
--Development News Bulletin, National Economic and Social Development Board, Volume 11, No. 2--