Sustainable Agric​ulture and Food Security

Background Information and Rational for the Programme

Food security refers to the available of food and one’s access to it. A family is considered food-security when their occupants do not live in hunger or fear of starvation.

The World Food Summit of 1996 defined as existing “when all people at times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life”. Furthermore, food security is built on three pillars: 1) Food availability, 2) Food access and 3) Food use. Thus, food security is a complex sustainable development issue, link to health through malnutrition to support enough food in the world to feed everyone adequately.

Thailand is striving to improve food production to ensure food security, as well as food safety, as the same time. Three strategies have been working out for the country’s food management, in order to achieve this aim.

A major food producer for rice, tapioca, sugar cane, durian, longan, mangosteen and pineapple, Thailand has become the 13^th largest exporter in the world. The country is also the world’s first-ranked exporter for rice, tapioca and fruit and comes third among to sugar exporters. The value of Thai agricultural and food exports accounts for 60 percent of Thailand’s total export. Thailand exported 700 billion baht worth of food in 2008 and that 13 million people were employed in the agriculture sector. These figures show that Thailand has great potential for food production.

Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University has provided academic knowledge on agricultural production and improvement more than 40 years. Moreover, it has implemented the international training courses on crop and animal production for 10 years. Many laboratories and academic research centers are set up under the faculty. Especially, both lecturers and academic staffs are keen on these aspects. Experiences and acknowledge of staff will support this training course touch the aim.

Duration:                                  April 28 - May 31, 2013

Closing Date for Application: January 15, 2013

Number of Participants    17 persons

Invited Countries:  Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Lao PDR, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, 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

Qualifications

Participant for this course should :

• be nominated by their respective government;

• be university graduated or have an equivalent academic background in agriculture (plant science, agronomy,  horticulture, agricultural extension) or related fields

• at least 5 year experience on agriculture, extension, rural development, management researcher

• be under forty-five (45) years of age;

• have a sufficient command of spoken and written English;

• be in good health both physically and mentally, each participant should have a health certificate provided by an authorized physician. This form is also attached together with the Nomination Form. Pregnancy is regarded as a disqualifying condition for participation in the course.

Objectives

          The Programme is designed to:

• Provide the academic acknowledge on agricultural production leading food security

• Provide the opportunity for participants to gain new knowledge and experience from Thai researcher, private sector staff and smart farmers

• To take the participants visits and study on various farming system and food processing leading food security

• Stimulate participants share experience on food security from each country

Course Content

The main components of the programme are :

1. FORMAL LECTURES

1. Module I Introduction to the food security
                   1.1 Basic framework of food security
                   1.2 Identify potential risks to food security
                   1.3 Threats to sustainable agriculture
                   1.4 Systems approaches to agriculture for food security
   Module II Food systems for food security
                   2.1 Food supply chain linkage food security
                   2.2 Market based food insecurity
                   2.3 Food security through traditional agricultural system
   Module III Promoting food security & health
                   3.1 Overview of agricultural extension approach
                   3.2 Participatory implementation methods for food security
                   3.3 Strengthening farmer organizations to promote food security (health volunteer, smart farmer groups, farmer groups)
   Module IV Agricultural Systems in sufficient economy and low input agriculture
                   4.1 Integrated farming systems
                   4.2 Low input technology
                        - Efficient water management
                        - Integrated nutrient management (manure, compost, liquid organic Fertilizer)
                        - Pest management (bio extraction, bio control)
   Module V Food security for household
                   5.1 Mini-farming production
                       - Mushroom, vegetable
                       - protein food (fisheries, edible insect farming)
                   5.2 Integrated management for food security
   Module VI Community based food processing
                   6.1 Food quality, nutrition and safety
                   6.2 Small scale food processing (corn milk, rice bamboo etc)
                   6.3 Community based enterprise : local products and OTOP scheme
   Module VII Food preservation and conservation
                   7.1 Food storage and protection
                   7.2 Plant seed preservation and storage
                   7.3 Native animals conservation for food security
   Module VIII Discussion and Evaluation

   II  PRACTICAL EXERCISES
        Every module consist of lecture and practicum work.

   III STUDY TRIPS/ FIELD TRIPS
        One week field trip will be provided. Participants will visit the research institues, private business farms, the Royal project in the East and West region of Thailand. Importantly, Chitlada Palace will be the highlight of the trip.

   IV Reading Assignment
        The basic knowledge on agriculture product and food security, sufficient economy, new theory of agriculture

   Venue
   Training : Meeting room of Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University
   Accommodation : Kwanmor Hotel, Khon Kaen University

   Expected Results
   1. All participants will gain knowledge and experience on food production and food security
   2. Participants will learn from each other on food security from various countries
   3. Participant will  visit many places in Thailand and can take the knowledge on agricultural production and then apply this knowledge to their countries
   4.All participants will build up the network, then will communicate each other

   Evaluation
   Evaluation will be done into 2 types
        1. Module evaluation
        2. Course evaluation

   Institution:

   The course will be conducted by:

   The Office of International Agriculture (OIA), Faculty of Agriculture
   Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, THAILAND
   Tel : (66 43) 203435
   Fax : (66 43) 203435
   Coordinator :
   Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yupa Hanboonsong (Director)
   Mobile Phone: (66 85) 0060084, (66 85) 0087300
   E-mail : [email protected]
   Assist. Prof. Krailert Taweekul (Deputy Director)
   Mobile phone : (66 81) 7397044 
   E-mail: [email protected]
   
   Website : http://agserver.kku.ac.th/interag/index.html