Period of Cooperation | December 1988 – December 1993 (F/U): December 1994 – December 1994 (A/C) : April 1999 – March 2000 | Partner Country’s Implementing Organization: Department of Agriculture (DOA), International
Training Center for Agricultural Development (ITCAD),
Department of Land Development (DLD),
Department of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University (KKU) |
1-1 Background of the Project At the beginning of the 1980s, the agricultural production level in northeast Thailand was low compared to other areas due to environmental factors such as unstable weather, impoverished soil and lack of irrigation facilities. Under the Thai National Fifth Five-Year Plan (1982-1986), northeast Thailand, having the most number of designated poverty-level areas, became one of the target regions for development. Under this situation, the Project for Development of Agricultural Research Phase 1 (1983-1988) was implemented with the aim of strengthening research activities, and thus contributing to agricultural development in northeast Thailand.
In the July 1988 evaluation, an extension of the Project was recommended in order to resolve issues that were still inhibiting productivity in northeast Thailand and to continue the development of agricultural technology needed in that area. Based on this recommendation, Phase 2 was implemented from December 1988 to December 1993. Furthermore, follow-up cooperation was provided for another year after the termination of Phase 2. Since the follow-up, due to transfer of counterpart researchers and obsolescence of equipment, not only the research capabilities but also its training management system have become weak. Therefore, experts were dispatched, old equipment was updated, and spare parts were supplemented, in order to revitalize organizational management. 1-2 Project Overview With the International Training Center for Agricultural Development (ITCAD) as the implementing agency, technical transfer was provided in the areas of agro-ecological zones classification, land use planning, farm management systems research and low input technology development. (1) Overall Goal
1) Sustainable agriculture suited to the specific environmental conditions of northeast Thailand is introduced.
2) Agricultural development methods suitable for northeast Thailand are introduced. (2) Project Purpose
To strengthen research activities contributing to agricultural development suitable for northeast Thailand. (3) Outputs
1) Classification of agro-ecological zones and land use planning are strengthened.
2) Research on farm management systems is strengthened.
3) Low input technology is developed.
4) Research capability of the researchers at ITCAD is improved.
5) Seminars and workshops are organized.
6) ITCAD publications are issued.
7) Research results are presented on the demonstration farm. (4) Inputs Japanese Side: | Long-Term Experts | 17 | Equipment | 156 Million yen | Short-Term Experts | 30 | Local Cost | 108 Million yen | Trainees Received | 20 | Thai Side: | Counterparts | 16 | Land and Facilities | | Local Cost | 150 Million yen |
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3-1 Summary of Evaluation Results(1) Impact
The Project’s goal was to contribute in the improvement of agricultural production in northeast Thailand, focusing on the classification of agro-ecological zones, land use planning, and development of farm management systems and of low-input technology. The table below demonstrates the degree to which the Project contributed in the improvement of agricultural production in northeast Thailand. The results are based on discussions with staff from ITCAD, Department of Agriculture (DOA) and Department of Land Development (DLD).
| Issue | Score | Overview | | Classification of agro-ecological zones and land use planning | 3 | Holds northeast Thailand’s largest database and GIS regarding classification of
agro-ecological zones and land use planning.
Data is provided to researchers and agricultural planners. | | Development of farm management systems and of low-input technology | 4 | Farmers and other related people were introduced to newly developed technique.
The table below shows the results of the dissemination to farmers. | Technique or Crops Introduced | Status of Dissemination | | Mango | Many farmers requested mango seeds. | Cassava grown with the use of
green manure | Spread to more farmers; increased yield. | Crop cultivation methods
effective against salt water damage | Spread to farmers. | Improvement of sugarcane
cultivation system | Spread to farmers. | | Crop production using sprinklers | Sweet corn and peanut seeds were distributed
to farmers but sprinkler use is at a standstill. | Agricultural methods in areas
damaged by salt water | Approximately 100 farmers are currently
participating in experiments. |
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(Scores: 5 very strong contribution; 4 relatively significant contribution; 3 a modest level of contribution; 2 little contribution; and 1 very low level of contribution.) Researchers from ITCAD, DOA and DLD have conducted disseminating activities called the “mobile clinic,” which addresses various problems faced by farmers, based on the transferred technology and research results generated during the Project. Also, the number of students who use the center facilities and the demonstration farm has increased to 20-30 per year. (2) Sustainability
Although budget and staff limitations have caused a reduction in the number of research topics compared to the number of topics researched during the Project’s duration (1995 to 2002), 256 researches are being conducted with the participation of KKU. Many publications have been issued in Thai. Since the completion of the Project, 61 training sessions and seminars were held, and 1490 people participated, including domestic and foreign researchers and staff of government-affiliated institutions. There were not only participants from governmental and research institutions in northeastern Thailand such as ITCAD, DOA, DLD, and KKU, but also participants from northern Thailand. These training sessions provide good opportunities for technical exchanges.
Almost all the Project counterpart personnel are currently assigned to ITCAD, DOA, DLD or KKU. Although some donated equipment pieces have become old, 60-70% of them are still functioning. The laboratories and annex research stations are well maintained. The demonstration farm is used for research on orchards on irrigated land and land reliant on natural water, soil conservation and water management, the use of green manure and compost, and crop systems for cassava and sugarcane. Every year almost 100 extension workers and researchers and almost 100 farmers visit to observe the farm, but this does not result in actual diffusion since this is not the aim of the demonstration farm.
In 1996, the Center changed its name from the Agricultural Development Research Center (ADRC) to the International Training Center for Agricultural Development (ITCAD), and was change from the jurisdiction of the Office of Permanent Secretary, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) to the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture (DOA). With this change, a new goal of creating a domestic and foreign network through research and training was added to the original organizational mission of conducting research and training to aid agricultural development in northeastern Thailand. However, since ITCAD did not have a specific plan, resources or budget allocation for achieving its organizational mission, there is a great deal of ambiguity about its future. While KKU’s budget has been on the increase since the completion of the Project, but ITCAD’s budget allocation has been on the decline, resulting in insufficient funds for maintaining staff for the demonstration farm and for updating equipment.
Training sessions and seminars have been held with the participation of domestic and foreign researchers and staff of government-affiliated institutions. Almost all the Project counterpart personnel are currently working at ITCAD. Judging from these facts, the Project has been sustainable to some extent. However, there are still financial and other issues arising from the reorganization of ITCAD. These issues must be resolved in the future. 3-2 Factors that Promoted the Realization of Effects (1) Factors Concerning the Planning
N/A (2) Factors Concerning the Implementation Process
1) Aid was provided for conducting research and holding seminars by the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS). Through the Project, good cooperative relationships were formed and maintained between ITCAD and affiliated institutions. Such relationship helped to maintain the same level of research even after the termination of the Project.
2) It is also an important contributing factor that the donated equipment was distributed fairly and being shared among the institutions. 3-3 Factors that Impeded the Realization of Effects (1) Factors Concerning the Planning
N/A (2) Factors Concerning the Implementation Process
N/A 3-4 ConclusionCounterpart personnel who gained technical skills through the Project are continuing their research activities with the help of a regular budget allocation. The research results have had a certain impact on other researchers and students. Further, although limited, this impact has also spread to the farmers. ITCAD is unable at this point to determine its future direction, due to organizational reforms of MOAC and DOA. 3-5 Recommendations The personnel trained in the Project should make efforts to spread the Project results to researchers, government employees and farmers from other developing countries. Cooperation in training surrounding to countries would be especially effective. 3-6 Lessons LearnedN/A 3-7 Follow-up SituationN/A |
