On Tuesday, October 15, 2024, Ms. Thanaphitcha Theraratchanan, Director of Office of Agricultural Economics Region 2 (Director of ROAE2 Phitsanulok), along with Mr. Thanakorn Kaewcharoen, an expert economist, welcomed representatives of the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion in Phitsanulok Province and representatives of the Young Smart Farmer Phitsanulok group at the Dok Pib Meeting Room, ROAE2. Representatives of the group also attended a seminar with the FTA fund in Chiang Mai Province in late September.

The objective was to discuss the guidelines for requesting loan support from the FTA fund, which is a fund to help farmers affected by the liberalization of trade in the agricultural sector (FTA) in restructuring agricultural production, increasing production efficiency, developing the quality of processing, and creating added value for agricultural products.

There were 5 groups of agricultural institutions that requested to discuss the feasibility and preparing project proposals for submission:
1) Mango Export Community Enterprise Group (Nam Dok Mai mangoes) Tambon Sai Yoi, Amphoe Noen Maprang
2) Guava Production Community Enterprise, Guava Saplings and Processed Red-Fleshed Guava, Ban Yan Yao, Amphoe Phrom Phiram (Hong Bao Sue Guava)
3) Agricultural Community Enterprise for Creating a Life-changing Garden in Namtok Poi Waterfall (Processed Sweet Tamarind) Tambon Chom Thong, Amphoe Mueang
4) Agricultural Community Enterprise for Creating Thailand (Beef Cattle)
5) Hemp Lovers Group (Hemp)

The discussion topics are summarized as follows:

Nam Dok Mai mangoes, Hong Bao Sue guava, processed sweet tamarind and beef cattle, ROAE2 would like each community enterprise group to coordinate with the main host agency for the project and to draft a project that specifies the importance, objectives, business plan, products and outcomes to submit to the FTA Fund, Agricultural Economics Research Institute, OAE for further consideration.

Hemp products, ROAE2 will take the issues that the group representatives have proposed to request support in terms of requesting training and knowledge transfer on efficient hemp production, up to standard, in line with market demand. To coordinate with educational institutions in the area in the form of using the group as a demonstration plot or a prototype for research and development. This is because hemp is not a product type that can request funding from the FTA fund.

Photo/News: Public Relations Working Group, ROAE2 (Phitsanulok)