The Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Co-operatives is preparing to propose the inclusion of the raising of Thailand’s water buffaloes in the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS).

 

Agriculture Permanent Secretary Thongplew Kongjan said today (Monday) that, in order to qualify for inclusion, certain criteria must be met. These include food security and the wellbeing of the animals, agricultural bio-diversity, local wisdom, culture, value system and social organisations, landscape and marine landscape.

 

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He said that inclusion in the GIAHS will benefit the raisers by encouraging more tourists to visit the Thale Noi non-hunting area in the southern province of Phattalung, thereby increasing revenues from tourism.

 

Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-water-buffaloes-to-be-proposed-as-a-un-agricultural-heritage-systems/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-05-09

 

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Are they sick ones??

Yes, I heard they are threatened, as they often get 'sick'...

As the last paragraph points out. This is not being done out of some deep respect and wisdom for the buffalo as part of a traditional food production system. 

 

Nope, it's being done to glee a bit more cash from good old tourists. Capitalism at its finest.

Edited May 9, 20224 yr by jonclark

Are contributions to their welfare now teerak deductible?

22 minutes ago, RubbaJohnny said:

Are contributions to their welfare now teerak deductible?

That is, only if we revert to the traditional kwai-value as a sin sot offering. 

Wouldn't that be grand.

 

????????

once borders open, thailand again becoming a hub, a centre of a universe.

Somehow they can't lead in technologies, inventions, progressive thinking.

Instead they push it's history - culinary, cultural and now agricultural.

At the same time the government neglects elephants, wild and domesticated.  There was not any help for starving ellies during pandemic. Kraals had to depend on charity, animal fundations. 

Would tourists visit buffaloes and not elephant kraals?

Edited May 9, 20224 yr by internationalism

Great news!bWhat fun!

How many hubs is Thailand now at the top of. ?

 

It seems to me that everytime I open AN that Thailand has reached the pinnacle of excellence in just about every field.

Edited May 9, 20224 yr by Golden Triangle

Sick buffaloes are a bar girls best friend.

Thailand appears to be trying to get the word 'heritage' on everything, must be some money making scheme somewhere.

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Co-operatives is preparing to propose the inclusion of the raising of Thailand’s water buffaloes in the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS).

????

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

He said that inclusion in the GIAHS will benefit the raisers by encouraging more tourists to visit the Thale Noi non-hunting area in the southern province of Phattalung, thereby increasing revenues from tourism.

The truth will out.

Nothing to do with heritage or culture, just another tourist stream.

"Soft Power"?

 

Replaced by Kubota walking tractor.

 

 

Bring on the races, by far the best part. Tractors (mud drag-racing) or four-legged variety.

 

 

 

 

 

Long, long ago my wife went to a school that was on the "wrong" side of a river, it was about a 1km walk to the nearest bridge. If she had been very good she and her sister were allowed to ride the water buffalo across the river standing barefoot on its back. Send the buffalo home once at school. Reverse the procedure to go home, buffalo was sent over to collect them.

 

Of course she's told my English grand-daughters about this, they have informed us that they've done elephants last time they were here, they want to do water buffaloes next time!

 

 

In other news , Thailand has applied to register GO GO Bars as the UN heritage sites promoting cross collaboration, cultural exchanges and promoting love and harmony!!

34 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Thailand appears to be trying to get the word 'heritage' on everything, must be some money making scheme somewhere.

yes, money from UN organisations (there are tens of them, FAO, UNESCO) for yearly sponsorship of different projects.

water buffaloes are not near extinctions, still some 120mln on every continent. Yes, they were immensely important in agriculture, but times are changing. In thailand they are now only a source of food, not working on fields. They won't disappear, but their population will be falling.

In comparison - asian elephant was on the verge of extinction. Situation improved just recently. But because of covid domesticated rearing is small and will be such for many more years. Mahouts, who were underemployed, will not come back for that low payed and dangerous work. So the circle closes. 

With national parks closed down and later working in limited capacities, funds for protection of wild elephants are lower, resulting in poaching 

Edited May 10, 20224 yr by internationalism

Wait…does that include me too? My wife and the family always call me khwai?!

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

the wellbeing of the animals,

So "sick" buffaloes could have an adverse effect!!

4 hours ago, Crossy said:

If she had been very good she and her sister were allowed to ride the water buffalo across the river standing barefoot on its back.

I often wonder why so many children drown here.

 

 

12 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

I often wonder why so many children drown here.

 

It was a long time ago, 1950's early 60s, if they did fall off the beast would pause whilst they climbed back on for a rather damp school day.

 

They would all be hopping on a motocy now, probably more hazardous ???? 

Farang buffalo also becoming hard to find, need government protection - very important as an important income generator for  Isaan!