Thailand

Achievements

Achievements from 2011-12 Annual Report

The ability to identify pest organisms is fundamental for both plant quarantine and crop protection processes. Australia has developed a system for remote microscopy, and already a facility is underway in Thailand. Currently, there is limited or no physical biosecurity and quarantine system operating in Cambodia or Laos, and the project aims to develop a regional network of remote microscope centres that will encourage the operation of a regional communication network for the purpose of remote identification of pests.

ACIAR is sponsoring a project with the World Vision Foundation in Thailand to help rural people in Mahasarakham province in north-eastern Thailand, one of the poorest parts of the country, which suffers from low soil fertility, salinity and acidity. Farmer participation in trials has been encouraged and in 2010 extended to eight target villages of four subdistricts. The promising results obtained thus far will be evaluated in 2012–13.