Save Planet Agro-Economy Development Association, the Community Rice Centre Association of Thailand, the Agriculturist Association and the Thai Rice Mills Association have partnered to promote the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) model in rice farms across 10 provinces, covering about 50,000 rai of paddy fields, with the aim of getting them to produce premium-quality rice
Pana Tappinkorn, president of the Save Planet Agro-Economy Development Association, said that the BCG model would be applied during off-season planting. It is a continuation of Save-Planet Rice's pilot projects which it successfully implemented in 20 villages.
The project helped lower investment costs, increased productivity and improved rice quality, Tappinkorn said. He mentioned that the rice produced by the villages which took part in the pilot project commanded premium prices, and was handed out as gifts at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) 2022 summit.
The model applied in the pilot project will be gradually introduced to farmers nationwide, starting with farmers in Chiang Rai, Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Sawan, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, and Lop Buri.
These farmers will be encouraged to grow their rice organically, in an environmentally friendly manner to ensure their sustainability, said Pana.
The four associations also signed a memorandum of understanding, approved by Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, to work on sustainable, chemical-free rice production, with the aim of helping farmers save on production costs.
