Revealing the results of 6 sub-master plans for agriculture in 2567, moving forward to upgrade production and generate income in the agricultural sector

     Mrs. Thanyathitha Boonyamaneekul, Deputy Secretary-General of the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE), Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, revealed the results of monitoring the master plan under the National Strategy on Agriculture for fiscal year 2567, which the agricultural master plan aims to upgrade production to quality, safety standards, utilize the uniqueness of agricultural products, biodiversity, develop agricultural products and processing, and apply technology and innovation to create value for agricultural products. It is an integration under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives with a target of increasing gross domestic product in the agricultural sector. And the productivity of the agricultural sector has increased, consisting of 6 sub-plans: 1) Local Identity Agriculture Sub-Master Plan 2) Safe Agriculture Sub-Master Plan 3) Organic Agriculture Sub-Master Plan 4) Processed Agriculture Sub-Master Plan 5) Smart Agriculture Sub-Master Plan and 6) Agricultural Ecosystem Development Sub-Master Plan. From the ONESQA monitoring of the performance of important projects under the Agricultural Master Plan for Fiscal Year 2024 (October 1, 2023 - September 30, 2024), the overall results can be implemented according to the plan, accounting for 106 percent of the target. When classified by each aspect, it was found that 1) Sub-Master Plan for Identity Agriculture, 105 Jasmine rice farmers in Surin Province can sell rice seeds to the Surin Provincial Rice Seed Center at an average price of 17 baht per kilogram. Which is higher than the general market price which has an average of 12 baht per kilogram (5 baht higher than before). There has been inspection and certification of 250,567 meters of Thai silk products, worth 643 million baht. 2) The sub-master plan for safe agriculture. The overall value of safe agricultural products (plant, fishery and livestock products) is on average 4,243,444 baht per year, up from 4,410,864 baht per year before joining the project (an average decrease of 167,420 baht per year or 4 percent) because livestock products have been affected by endemic diseases, resulting in a decrease in production. However, it was found that the value of fishery products increased to 2,709,611 baht per year, up from 2,586,697 baht per year before joining the project (an increase of 122,914 baht per year or 5 percent). 3) The sub-master plan for organic agriculture.
     Farmers apply their knowledge of herbs and economic insects. This resulted in an 83 percent increase in average yield per unit and a 41 percent decrease in average cost per unit. 92 percent of farmers had higher incomes after joining the project due to increased planting/raising areas and application of knowledge, resulting in higher incomes. 4) Sub-master plan for processed agriculture, farmer institutions have received further product development, such as rice, mangosteen paste with three flavors, fermented fish, and processed cow's milk products. The farmer institutions have an average sales value of processed products of 527,375 baht per month, up from 315,333 baht per month (an increase of 212,042 baht per month or 67 percent), which is the improvement of product packaging to make it more beautiful and to add value to the products. 5) Sub-master plan for smart agriculture, the value of agricultural products from the application of agricultural technology or innovation, resulting in increased product value for the model farmer's plots. Palm oil products are valued at 25,620 baht per rai, up from 18,910 baht per rai (an increase of 6,710 baht per rai or 35 percent), and the unit yield has increased to 4,200 kilograms per rai, up from 3,100 kilograms per rai (an increase of 1,100 kilograms per rai or 35 percent). 6) Sub-master plan for agricultural ecosystem development, farmers have started to change from growing rice to other products that are suitable for the area according to the Agri-Map, such as mixed farming, animal feed, etc. It is expected that when the yield is obtained, the yield value will be 5,693 baht per rai, up from the original rice yield value of 3,190 baht per rai (an increase of 2,503 baht per rai or 78 percent), and the income has increased to 4,949 baht per rai, up from 2,711 baht per rai (an increase of 2,238 baht per rai or 83 percent). In addition, large-scale rice farmers have formed groups to manage the purchase of production factors and form groups to sell, resulting in reduced expenses. And the yield increased. Farmers had a net income of 4,080 baht per rai per year, from the original net income of 2,404 baht per rai per year (an increase of 1,676 baht per rai per year or 70 percent).

     Farmers were most satisfied with the project. However, in order for the implementation of the project under the master plan to continuously achieve its objectives, training should be organized to increase knowledge for officials regularly so that they can transfer it to farmers. Knowledge on the preparation of production plans and planting plans should be promoted for farmers who experience production problems so that they are ready to cope with natural phenomena and changing weather conditions by allocating budgets in line with the operational plans and activities at the local level, as well as publicizing to farmers the benefits of receiving agricultural product standard certification, organizing activities to connect marketing networks, and promoting group formation, upgrading groups to become entrepreneurs to increase their bargaining power with buyers. In addition, the OAE continues to monitor important projects under the agricultural master plan in order to drive forward and achieve the objectives and goals of the plan.