Thailand sets up organic villages and organic valley
The Ministry of Commerce, through the Department of Internal Trade, has launched a project to establish organic villages in order to expand markets for organic products even more widely.
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Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said that the project is part of the Ministry of Commerce’s strategy for developing the marketing of organic products from 2017 to 2021.
The strategy has been implemented under the vision that Thailand is set to become a leader in organic production, trade, and consumption in the ASEAN region.
Apart from seeking more distribution channels for organic products, the project also aims to enhance Thailand’s capabilities to process organic products and to add value to these products for local communities. A target has been set to establish four organic villages each year.
In a community to be designated an "organic village,” at least 50% of all local families must be engaged in organic farming. They consume products made in their villages and sell the surplus.
Moreover, their products should have good potential for standard certification, and their villages should handle the management of their own marketing system.
Four organic villages have already been set up under this project. They include Rim Si Muang village in Khao Kho district, Phetchabun province; Thap Thai village in Prasat district, Surin province; Sok Khum Pun village in Kut Chom district, Yasothon province; and Huai Phu village in Nakhon Chai Si district, Nakhon Pathom province.
In 2017, the Department of Internal Trade plans to set up four more organic villages in Nakhon Phanom, Chaiyaphum, Lop Buri, and Chiang Mai. The Ministry of Commerce also has a policy to develop Chaiyaphum province as a model for the first "organic valley” in Thailand.
The organic valley in Chaiyaphum comprises six villages and a community enterprise for beef cattle raisers. Apart from organic cotton production, this valley has also planted other organic agriculture products, such as rice, mulberry, banana, lemon grass, and pumpkin. Its organic production has also led to tourism development.
The Ministry of Commerce will offer assistance to this organic valley, in terms of production factors and marketing. It will also help create brands for local organic products.
The Ministry will organize the Organic and Natural Expo 2017 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok from 27 to 30 July 2017. Products from the organic valley in Chaiyaphum will also be sold at this fair.
