The success of the bio-agricultural product development project boosts farmer income and creates continuous added value.

News No. 119/2024 22 October,2025

     Ms. Thanyathitha Boonyamanikul, Deputy Secretary-General of the Office of Agricultural Economics ,OAE ,MOAC, revealed the results of the monitoring project to promote and develop bio-agricultural products into the bioeconomy supply chain.
     The project aims to develop farmers' potential to produce and add value to high-quality medicinal plants and economic insects that meet market demand. 
Five integrated agencies are involved:The Department of Agricultural Extension, the Agricultural Land Reform Office, the Department of Agriculture, the Office of the Permanent Secretary, and the Department of Cooperatives Promotion, with OAE responsible for monitoring and evaluating the results.
     For fiscal year 2025, the project aims to train 5,400 farmers in 71 provinces to develop their potential. Each agency has implemented a variety of activities. For example, the Department of Agricultural Extension promotes and develops the potential of herbal farmers and increases the efficiency of economic insect production.The Agricultural Land Reform Office provides training on production, value addition, marketing, and supports innovative technologies for farmers in land reform areas.The Department of Agriculture Establishing a prototype plot for production technology and prototype products from local medicinal plants.The Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, is upgrading medicinal plant production in the Herbal City, promoting the production of quality raw materials and providing knowledge on business model development. The Department of Cooperative Promotion is promoting the cultivation of medicinal plants in agricultural institutions, providing knowledge on GAP/organic production standards.Cost reduction, processing, marketing, and networking. 
     From October 2024 to September 2025, a total of 5,439 farmers were trained, representing 100.72 percent of the target. Field visits and evaluations by the CPPE in Songkhla, Trang, Surat Thani, Lampang, Sukhothai, and Phitsanulok provinces from July to August 2025 revealed that participating farmers have applied their knowledge in practical applications, including cultivation and maintenance of medicinal plants, processing for added value, raising commercial insects such as bees and crickets, and disease prevention.
     As well as certification and marketing, 75.27 percent of farmers experienced increased income after participating in the project.The average herbalproduction area increased by 0.44 rai per farmer. Importantly, the value of organic agricultural products increased by an average of 6,330.19 baht per year, from 22,106.56 baht per year to 28,436.75 baht per year, representing a 28.63 percent increase. However farmers continue to demand new herbal varieties to expand their growing areas but there is still a lack of qualified sources. Some farmers also face uncertain distribution channels resulting in a market oversupply. The CPPE recommends that relevant agencies promote and support the procurement of high-quality, market-demand herbal varieties, alongside promoting networking and market linkages to enhance trade bargaining power and ensure price stability.
"In fiscal year 2026, OAE, through its CPPE, plans to continuously monitor this project to assess progress, listen to obstacles, and gather feedback from all stakeholders. This information will be used to improve and support policymaking for maximum benefit for farmers," the OAE Deputy Secretary-General concluded.

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