OAE monitors on upgrading agricultural product standards, shows success in certified livestock and fisheries products, creating added value

     Mrs. Thanyathitha Boonyamaneekul, Deputy Secretary-General of the Office of Agricultural Economics ,OAE, MOAC, revealed the results of the monitoring of the project to upgrading the quality of agricultural products in the livestock and fisheries sectors. The overall operation in fiscal year 2024 found that it was successfully implemented according to the target. There were 72,137 livestock and halal industry establishments in the livestock sector that were inspected and certified for the quality of livestock products ,136.15 percent of the target of 52,985 establishments, 15,724 aquaculture farms were assessed ,102.18 percent of the target of 15,388 establishments, and 1,790 aquatic animal production/processing establishments and other establishments were assessed ,108.09 percent of the target of 1,656 establishments,.
For fiscal year 2025, OAE will continue to monitor the performance of livestock and fisheries sectors continuously with the overall goal of the entire country to inspect and certify factory farms and livestock product stores to meet the specified standards of 52,958 locations, including the target of assessing standard aquatic animal farms and farm sanitation, assessing production sites/processing sites/laboratories, a total of 17,005 locations.
     Initially, from the field visit to monitor the overall performance over a 4-month period (October 2024 - January 2025), 39,458 farms, factories, and livestock product stores were inspected ,74.51 percent of the target. Aquatic animal farms, production sites/processing sites/laboratories were assessed 5,145 locations ,30.26 percent of the target.In addition, field visits to monitor the project implementation in Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces found that the Provincial Livestock Office carried out livestock product quality assurance activities by conducting livestock product quality assurance for farmers/operators in 540 locations ,63.31 percent of the target of 853 locations, and the Provincial Fisheries Office carried out activities to develop the quality of fishery products to meet standards by preparing to assess standard farms. For 31 farmers/business operators who raise aquatic animals ,53.45 percent of the target of 58, the focus will be on farmers/business operators who need to use the certificate to do business first. Initially, dairy farmers who joined the project in 2024 found that farmers received follow-up, advice, and consultation from officials. This included advice on farming checkpoints, notifications for GAP farm standard certificate renewal, collection of farm samples for analysis to prevent epidemics, advice on farming techniques, initial disease prevention, and assistance in solving various problems when farmers requested. As a result, farmers were able to sell raw milk to the dairy cooperative at an average price of 21.95 baht per kilogram ,an increase of 4.43 percent. In addition, members who managed their farms according to GAP standards received an additional raw milk fee of approximately 0.20 - 0.50 baht per kilogram. However, farmers still do not give much importance to recording animal husbandry data, which is one of the requirements that must be adhered to. Therefore, advice should be given to farmers to see the importance of recording data. As for aquatic animal farmers, officials from the Department of Fisheries in the area prepared farmers to be ready to inspect standard farms and farm sanitation. Then, the list of farmers/business operators will be submitted for assessment of safe agricultural product standards. From the survey, it was found that the average price of white shrimp sold by farmers was 165 baht per kilogram ,an increase of 3.13 percent.
     In terms of market connectivity, it was found that most livestock farmers produce agricultural products under contract farming with private companies that purchase at an agreed-upon price from the beginning, called the guaranteed price, which can help protect farmers from income risks when doing modern farming and produce products that meet market demand. Shrimp farmers in Phetchaburi Province have established a shrimp farming club to create a group to increase bargaining power with buyers. It has been in operation since 2021 and organizes a shrimp festival every year, inviting farmers with expertise in shrimp farming to share their knowledge, as well as inviting shrimp larvae producers, shrimp buyers, and shrimp feed sellers to negotiate with each other. In addition, in terms of the value of agricultural products produced that have been certified as safe agricultural products Which is a comparison of the value of safe agricultural product production in 2023 and 2024 of farmers/entrepreneurs who produce safe livestock and aquatic products. It was found that before joining the project (2023), farmers had an average value of safe agricultural product production of 4,109,171.31 baht per year and after joining the project (2024), farmers had an average value of safe agricultural product production of 4,421,936.57 baht per year ,average increase of 312,765.26 baht per year or an increase rate of change of 7.61 percent.