Integration of livestock research for rural development
1995
Sornthep Tumwasorn (Kasetsart Univ., Bangkok (Thailand). Faculty of Agriculture. Dept. of Animal Science)
Research and development group comprised of researcher, extension officer, and farmer and formed as one unit in each district. Two provinces (Ang Thong and Uthai Thani) are selected to represent the low central plain and montaneous area. The development and extention team will stay 24 hours in the villages with good cooperation with the informal small farmer group of farmers which is formed by villagers themselves as Beef Breeding and Production Group. Reports are presented monthly to research committee to evaluate and select critical topics to be researched out by the graduate students under professors' supervisions and professors themselves. Strict arrangement of topics and facilities have been launched to solve the critical problems facing villagers. When the research has been completed, there is no need for further extension since farmers have all seen on going results by themselves and always share comments within the research group for the efficient adoption. When the outcome shows significant contribution such as better growth rate and bigger size of calves at the same age comparing to the local beef breed or better milk yield in dairy cattle, private sectors will come in sight to carry on the business development. Once the market is developed by having better quality cattle, then farmers will gradually learn how to manage their production from the subsistent level to small business oriented under the help of provincial supports and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives. In the past 5 years, the project has successfully produced many graduate students with full understanding of thai agricultural system, its advantages and disadvantages for future development. The present project is now enjoying the concept of conducting research and development for the benefit of people, not for the benefit of animal as believed by many scientists.
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