Background and Rationale

Founded in 1988 by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the Chaipattana Foundation has served to facilitate His Majesty King’s development work aiming to expedite governmental efforts to better the livelihoods of the people of Thailand. A number of royally-initiated projects implemented by the Chaipattana Foundation have focused on agricultural development to support farmers who are the country’s backbone. This implementation has yielded positive results by providing Thai farmers with skills and practical technology to improve their livelihoods and lead their lives self-sufficiently. Evidently, many job opportunities have been created and the living standard has been raised for the people in the rural areas. These benefits from the royal concepts for agricultural development have earned His Majesty the King of Thailand continuous reverence his subjects as well as international recognition. The implementation of royally-initiated projects by the Chaipattana Foundation has also produced practical knowledge which can be adopted to benefit other developing and primarily agricultural countries.  Educational visits to the projects implemented by the Chaipattana Foundation have suggested that agricultural concepts and approaches in accordance with His Majesty the King’s initiatives are well-received and gain high attention among foreigners. Globalization has exposed farmers to the vulnerability caused by external fluctuations of the global economy. Despite the reduction of overall poverty as the result of rapid economic growth, the distribution of income remains highly unequal. Previous global economic crises have increasingly highlighted the need for self-reliance and sustainable development. His Majesty the King’s agricultural approaches promoting these concepts deserve to be shared with the international community. To enhance the opportunity to benefit from these valuable approaches, training which combines conceptual and practical aspects should be offered to foreigners. Practical knowledge accumulated during the Chaipattana Foundation’s extensive implementation of royally-initiated projects includes uncomplicated and affordable agricultural technology such as the use of vetiver grass for soil improvement and the natural approaches to wastewater. The focus on simplicity, self-sufficiency, and conservation of natural resources in agricultural development will not only benefit the agrarian community of nations but also help to achieve sustainable development on a global scale.

Duration:                                  November 19-25, 2012

Closing Date for Application:  August 31, 2012

Number of Participants            25 persons

Invited Countries: 

Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cambodia, China, CARICOMMember Countries, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, FEALAC Member Countries, Gabon, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Lao PDR, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, OAS Member Countries, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, PIF Member Countries (Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Cook Island, Solomon Island, Marshall Island, Niue, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu), Republic of Seychelles, Senegal, Sri Lanka, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Vietnam, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Zambia and Thailand

Objectives

• To promote sustainable development in the national and global environment
• To help farmers in developing countries to become self-reliant and to support community-level capacity building in order to improve their livelihoods
• To promote simple and affordable agricultural technologies through royal development projects implemented by the Chaipattana Foundation
• To promote the advancement and diffusion of technologies and knowledge as well as understanding among countries
• To support international collaborations based on common interests

The Methodology

The proposed training will offer both interactive, classroom-style lectures and on-site educational visits to the royally-initiated development projects implemented by the Chaipattana Foundation. All lectures will be conducted in English language by well-established local and international academics and experts in agricultural development studies and relevant fields.

Institution:

Executing / Implementing Agency

Implementing Agency: Office of the Chaipattana Foundation
2012 Soi Arun Amarin 36 Arun Amarin Road ( Rama 8 Bridge), Bangkok, 10700, Thailand 
Tel: (+66) 2 447 8585 - 8 ext. 249 Fax. (+66) 2 447 8576