Sufficiency Economy in Agriculture

Background and Rational

Agriculture is subsistence in parts of the world especially in developing countries. Most of the populations in the countries live their lives in part of agricultural production. The patterns of agricultural production are varied and dependent upon natural resources and environmental condition, and sociological condition of the area. Agricultural production is probably not major source of economic growth of the countries but it fulfills food security aspect. In fine natural resources and environmental condition, people can live their lives without concerning economic aspect. As results from economic growth, agricultural production patterns have been changed to utilize more natural resources to increase yield and quality of products from the area. During last five decades, economic growth alone has left negative impacts on natural resources and environmental condition, and sociological condition. People have been further from nature and livelihood in their homeland. These have caused deterioration in natural resources and environmental condition, vulnerability in families, communities and countries as well. The economic crisis starting in 1997 are the evidences proven that economic growth is not a sole measurement of mankind development.

In May 2006, Secretary General Kofi Annan has come to Thailand to present the Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award to HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej in recognition of his contributions to human development, poverty reduction and conserving natural resources and environmental condition. This is the first time such an award has been given in recognition of the King’s visionary development-thinking, known as “Sufficiency Economy” philosophy. The essence of philosophy is inspired by Buddhism, a middle path approach, with an emphasis on human development by putting people and their well-being at the centre of development and providing an alternative to the traditional. The philosophy of sufficiency economy is for conduct of people livelihood. The philosophy is, based on three major components, including: moderation, reasonableness and immunity to the changes. There are two conditions, that essential for people to achieve sufficiency economy, knowledge and morality. The philosophy might be applied depending on the economic background of each individual and geo-social condition of the area. As most of Thai in the rural areas live their lives in part of agricultural production, the production based on the concept of the “New Theory” which adopts the philosophy of “Sufficiency Economy” is considered a proper means to guide the people to rely on themselves so that they can secure in food and living.

Maejo University (MJU) is the oldest agricultural-based educational institution in Thailand. One of the MJU visions is to be a forefront international institution of academic excellence in the region and a learning center for people of Thai and international societies.  The main campus is situated 10 kms northeast of Chiang Mai municipality. MJU have 12 Faculties including agriculture and general faculties. The university core faculties are Agricultural Production, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and Animal Science and Technology. MJU offers 50 bachelor degree programs, 20 master degree programs and ten doctorate programs and the enrollment of students are countrywide. Faculty of Agricultural Production (AP) provides education, research and academic services in the fields of agronomy, horticulture, soil science, plant protection, agricultural extension and development, renewable energy and medicinal plant science. One of the master degree programs is Geo-social Based Sustainable Development (GS) which is the pride of MJU and AP for it is the only curriculum in Thailand that has formulated the King’s initiated development to a curriculum. The program’s objectives are 1) to disseminate knowledge and experience in the King’s initiated development to facilitators in developmental projects, and 2) to create new body of knowledge in the King’s initiated development. Therefore, an extension of the Sufficiency Economy to international participants through the training course is an knowledge based sharing from Thailand to others countries.

Objectives
The objectives of the training course are to: 

1. Disseminate knowledge in sufficiency economy to Asian, Oceania and African countries

2. Increase a better understanding and sharing experiences in sufficiency economy

3. Implement to agricultural production activities such as: crop production, animal production, fresh water fisheries and agro-forestry

4. Create network in agricultural - based sufficiency economy

The Objective of this training course is to produce graduates in the field of agriculture and related fields from Asia, Oceania and African to be competent in Sufficiency Economy as a means of establishing sustainable agriculture and natural resources development.

This training course utilizes the training approach, with the following broad learning objectives:

1. To allow participants to expand their knowledge in Sufficiency Economy

2. To enable participants to develop their Sufficiency Economy knowledge.

3. To enable participants to share their folk wisdom, culture, belief, tradition, and values.

4. To encourage participants to broaden and strengthen social networks of agri-graduates.

Course Content:

Components of the training course are the following:

• Lectures as theoretical training of sufficiency economy

• Field practices and group discussion on agricultural production activities base on sufficiency economy

• Field trips to landmarks of cultural important in Northern Thailand.

• Country report presentation

      1. Course outline (Table 1, Figure 1)

        1) General
             1.1 Thai Language and culture
             1.2 Global economic and Environment crisis
             1.3 Basic micro and macro economics
             1.4 Introduction to Royal Philosophy of sufficiency economy
         2) Sufficiency economy concepts (to be synthesis from 2.1, 2.2, 2.3; Medhi Kraongkaew)
              2.1 The inevitability of facing the globalized world in which economic efficiency and competition are the rules of the game.
             2.2 The other is the need for economic security and the capacity to protect oneself from external shock and instability.
             2.3 offers Agriculture base solutions to problems in both cities and rural areas. Linking the suitable economic system with the cooperative system
         3) Agricultural production activities
             3.1 Sustainable agriculture
             3.2 Organic agriculture
             3.3 Integrated pest management
                   3.3.1 Crop production
                   3.3.2 Animal production
                   3.3.3 Fresh water fisheries
                   3.3.4 Agro-forestry            
             3.4 Agricultural wastes composting using aerated static pile system
         4) Country report
              4.1 Preparation
              4.2 Presentation
         5) Course evaluation

      2. Practices
          Field practices and group discussion on sufficiency economy concepts.

      3. Excursion
          Excursion program to landmarks of cultural important in Northern Thailand  

     4. Advance Assignments
     Country Report

Duration: 2 May 2 - 1 June 2013

Closing Date: January 31, 2013

Number of Participants:  17 persons

Invited Countries:  Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cambodia, China, CARICOM Member Countries, Egypt, 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

Participants Criteria/Qualifications:

      Candidates must have:

• Bachelor or Master degree or equivalent degrees or non-university degrees with at least two years demonstrated experiences relevant to the respective topics

• Good ability in speaking, reading and writing English

• Age between 28-45 years

• Good health (pregnancy is a disqualification)

Venue
        Maejo University will be the venue for this international training course.

Expected Results 
        1. Participants from Asian, Oceania and African countries conceive concept and application of sufficiency economy at levels.
        2. Participants understand the others from different natural resources and environmental condition, and sociological condition.
        3. Participants are enabling to share their folk wisdom, culture, belief, tradition, and values.
        4. Participants are encouraging to broaden and strengthen social networks of sufficiency economy.

Evaluation

   Evaluation of the Participants
      To successfully accomplish the training course each participant should:

• Have completed at least 80% attendance of the course
• Have completed self-assessment scores of at least above average (to evaluate how much participants think they have learned)

    End of the course evaluation by the participants

Institution:

     Executing/Implementing Agency

      1. Maejo University is the implementing institution of this international training course. 
      2. Maejo University is prepared to implement the training course with the support of the following:

• Administrative Personnel are staff of the International Affairs Division with academic qualifications and ample experience in coordinating international training courses.

• The International Education and Training Center (venue of the training course) is equipped with accommodation rooms, Conference Rooms, Computer Room, Cafeteria and a Common Room.

         The course organizer and contact:
         Asst.Prof.Dr.Pathipan Sutigoolabud, Faculty of Agricultural Production
         Tel. 66 53873490 ext. 110, 66 819606015
         Email: [email protected]

<p class="MsoNormal" ;="" margin-left:="" 0.35in"="">    4. Project Manager:
        Assoc.Prof. Prawit Puddhanon, Dean Faculty of Agricultural Production,
        Maejo University, Sansai, Chiang Mai, Thailand  
        Tel: 66 53 873340  
        Fax: 66 53 878088  Email: [email protected]
        URL: http://www.ap.mju.ac.th