Agriculture Ministry Aims to Develop Chiang Rai as 'Agricultural Hub of Northern Thailand'
Thailand's Agriculture Ministry is working to transform Chiang Rai into the agricultural hub of northern Thailand by strengthening cooperatives and integrating technology throughout the farming value chain. The initiative, announced at a pr
The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives is spearheading efforts to transform Chiang Rai into the 'Agricultural Hub of Northern Thailand,' leveraging cooperatives as a mechanism to drive grassroots economic development and agricultural reform.
Deputy Minister Piyaratcha Tiyapairat presided over the 'Cooperative Unity Assembly in Chiang Rai Province,' organized by the Chiang Rai Cooperative Office to disseminate key ministry policies to cooperatives and farmers. The event, held at the Chiang Rai Teachers' Savings Cooperative meeting hall in Ban Du subdistrict, attracted approximately 500 participants including senior agricultural officials, cooperative administrators, farmers, and representatives from state agencies.
The ministry's policy, under the direction of Agriculture Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit, emphasizes 'innovative agriculture for sustainable Thai farming.' The approach integrates technology and innovation throughout the agricultural value chain, from production to marketing, while fostering collaboration across all sectors to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and strengthen farmers' capabilities.
The implementation strategy encompasses five key dimensions: elevating cooperatives to professionally-managed, transparent community enterprises; enhancing cooperative competitiveness through knowledge development in production, processing, and marketing; driving cooperatives through digital technology and innovation; promoting group collaboration and networks at local, regional, and national levels; and developing new-generation farmers and cooperative leaders with modern skills.
Crucially, the ministry will advance cooperatives under the BCG economy concept—combining bioeconomy, circular economy, and green economy principles—to ensure sustainable, environmentally-friendly agricultural development.
Chiang Rai possesses significant potential in commercial crop production, agricultural processing, and cross-border trade. The Agriculture Ministry has set an ambitious goal to develop the province into the 'Agricultural Hub of Northern Thailand,' using the cooperative system as a strategic mechanism to transform grassroots economies into regional economic centers. The focus will be on agricultural cooperatives, which play a crucial role in aggregating and processing key products such as rice, rubber, and fruits.
