AGRIC RESEARCH

closed

The project is designed to strengthen the DOA's capacity to implement national agricultural research programs and provide new and improved technology, particularly for farmers in rainfed areas. This would be accomplished by: (a) a training program for an additional 580 scientific staff, as well as for upgrading existing staff; (b) the physical development of 19 selected research centers in the regions, through the provision of additional scientific staff, research facilities, equipment, and housing; (c) reorganization and strengthening of the DOA and decentralization of research management and operations from Bangkhen (Bangkok) to the regions; and (d) strengthening the linkage between research and extension, so that research findings are more sharply focused on the practical problems that farmers face. Most of the approximately 5 million farm families would ultimately benefit from this project; however, major emphasis would be on upland crops and farming systems for rainfed agriculture, thus focusing on the poorest farmers in Thailand.