Food Valley scheme hailed as triumph

Food Valley scheme hailed as triumph

The Thailand Food Valley pilot project in Chiang Mai is considered a success, allowing 65 food operators to expand their markets under their own brands.

An Akha hilltribe woman picks tea leaves at a farm in Chiang Rai province at Doi Mae Salong, Thailand's biggest tea plantation.

Under the project set up last year, tea growers on Doi Mae Salong mountain have learned to make fine organic tea leaves.

More importantly, they are willing to sell under one brand, Doi Mae Salong, as they attempt to create a brand as strong as India's Assam tea.

Following the Netherlands' food valley model that integrates local food businesses, Thailand's Industry Ministry selected the first three provinces to implement the programme in which small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) receive support for research and development (R&D) to improve products. 

The provinces are Chiang Mai in the North, Nakhon Ratchasima in the Northeast and Prachuap Khiri Khan in the South. 

Atchaka Sribunruang, secretary-general of the Industrial Promotion Department, said the ultimate goal of the Thailand Food Valley was to develop the country to become an Asean food production hub.

Chiang Mai's Northern Food Valley project was established to assist more than 500 food processors ranging from upstream to downstream.

The tea plantation in Doi Mae Salong is now the biggest in the country.

"We've helped growers with their R&D and technical improvements and explored new markets for them," said Ms Atchaka. 

Pranom Chernbumrung, director of the Industrial Promotion Centre Region 1, said the Northern Food Valley had been run successfully and was able to promote 65 products and build brands for them such as tea and chilli paste.

SMEs also receive research support from Maejo University in Chiang Mai and the Federation of Thai Industries, she said.

The centre will ask for a higher budget of 14 million baht, up from 3 million, to operate the Northern Food Valley more efficiently.

Tea farmer Sutthiroj Chiratchayathitichok said farmers in Doi Mae Salong were very happy to have such a project, especially the research that enables them to improve products to fit markets. 

What growers want is a chance at building a local brand, as this will add value to Thailand's tea and raise the product's competitiveness in international markets, he said. 

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