The year opens with Thailand’s launch of the Better Rice Initiative Asia in the northeastern region, the National News Bureau of Thailand reports. Also known as BRIA, the campaign is a project between the Thailand’s Rice Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and the German Food Partnership (GFP) to promote rice production and contribute to the worldwide goal of ensuring food security.
The NNT also reports that the launching of the BRIA campaign in the Northeast will mean improvements in the rice production systems in the provinces of Ayutthaya, Ubon Ratchathani, Sisaket, Surin and Roi Et. The project will run until 2017.
The launching of the campaign in the region is timely as Thailand aims to increase rice production and export this year.
The Better Rice Initiative Asia is a project in four Southeast Asian countries – Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand, and is focused on increasing rice production, improving rice-based nutrition, and enhancing education and training on and appreciation for rice production among young, smallholder farmers.
In Thailand, one of the key activities of the campaign is the training of “lead farmers” on various rice production technologies including soil management, irrigation, and integrated crop protection. They are then expected to share and demonstrate the technologies to fellow farmers. The campaign also uses mass media to promote good agricultural practices. In September 2014, BRIA and the Rice Department also launched “Farmers Love Safety”, the first Thailand farmer edutainment reality show that explored the use of crop protection products. The show aired from October 2 - December 18 on Farm Channel.
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