New mentoring programme to help farmers become entrepreneurs

By THE NATION

 

 

The Department of Agricultural Economics has launched the "Agri Biz Idol" campaign to promote agricultural entrepreneurs using mentoring system in eight categories.

 

“In the pilot phase of ‘Agri Biz Idol’, we will select 80 farmers countrywide who have strong business plans to increase their product values using new technology under smart farming or smart production approaches,” said Chalermchai Srion, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives.

 

“This campaign will be divided into eight categories of agricultural industries: organic agriculture, community enterprise, agricultural product processing, agricultural tourism, high-technology agriculture, industrial agriculture, mega-farm enterprises and agricultural services.”

 

Khemkhaeng Yutithamdamrong, director-general of the department, further added that the project will provide selected candidates with coaching and hands-on training by professional mentors in specific fields.

 

“The mentors will also help guide farmers throughout the business development process until they can increase product values or even expand into new markets and related industries,” he added.

 

“We also hope that the ‘Agri Biz Idol’ will help inspire other farmers in their community to become entrepreneurs or businesspeople in agricultural industries instead of just being a producer,” said Khemkhaeng.

 

“When the campaign ends, the selected farmers must be able to utilise new technology and innovation to improve their enterprise as well as establish a network of agricultural entrepreneurs to exchange know-how and jointly come up with new products to serve customers’ needs in the new normal era.”

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30390650

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-07-02

 

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80 out of how many million?  I had been preaching value adding to my wife for years but up until last year it had fallen on deaf ears.  But you need to plan ahead.  If we are to make mango chutney we need to order our glass bottles and closures months ahead of time.  Plus the other ingredients we need.  Plus labels.  Will be interesting to see the outcome from this initiative.

They could let them grow and sell cannabis ????

Just a re-hatch of the old diversify scheme, back in the early 2000, mushroom , fish and chicken farms and the middle man got the money.