Thailand

Achievements

Key indicators and performance for 2009-2010

Indicator: Faster cattle-fattening rates obtained by participating farmers through increased production of improved forage varieties and production of forages on non-cropping land

Performance: Farmers from seven villages in Mahasarakham province are participating in a range of trials in production of improved forage varieties and use of forages as supplements to rice straw, and their effects on cattle-fattening rates. The results from these different feeding regimes on animal performances are being evaluated.

Indicator: Transfer of knowledge and experience from Thai counterparts achieved, enhancing joint Lao– Thai–Australian efforts to develop fish passage criteria for floodplain species of central Laos

Performance: Thai fisheries scientists brought their knowledge of the design and operation of fish passage facilities to a project in Laos, which resulted in the development of guidelines for fish passage facilities at low-head weirs controlling water flow on flood plains.

Indicator: Joint Lao–Thai–Australian cooperation achieved, increasing knowledge and skills on rice-based lowland cropping systems in Laos

Performance: There has been two-way exchange related to rice varietal development and direct seeding. In particular, one senior scientist from Thailand has made a major contribution to the project and the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute through training and mentoring on participatory varietal selection methods for rice.

Achievements from 2009-10 Annual Report

ACIAR and World Vision Foundation of Thailand have worked together since 2001 to foster greater application of the results of earlier ACIAR-funded research. A current project that follows this model focuses on improving the reliability of rice–livestock-based farming systems in Mahasarakham province in north-eastern Thailand, one of the poorest parts of the country. Research work has revolved around improving livestock production by demonstrating the usefulness of a range of forage grasses. However, some work was also conducted on livestock health and cattle-fattening techniques. With support from Khon Kaen University and the project advisory team, the project collected data to compare cattle growth using the recommended improved technologies with that of traditional techniques.

For rice production studies the project provided two varieties of seed to enable farmers to compare them and decide which of the two best suited their circumstances. Other activities included growing legumes with trials to test the effects of a variety of fertilisers on yield. The team held demonstrations to show the positive impact on yield of incorporating bentonite clay into sandy soil. However, work on aligning broadcast rice seeds into rows to reduce weed ingress was cancelled due to heavy early rains. Studies on alternative production systems and weed management will continue in years with more-typical rainfall.

In line with a Thai–Australian agreement to jointly focus on plant biosecurity, a project is in place to introduce technological research and training for improved pest diagnostics in the two countries. In the case of taxonomic training, two Thai scientists have trained in Australia in areas of specific interest to plant quarantine—the identification of exotic nematodes and of exotic fungi and bacteria associated with export seed. Molecular training is the most intensive component of the project and is undertaken in specific areas that relate to pests of important industries in Thailand. They include molecular diagnostics for fruit fly, citrus canker, black spot, potato spindle tuber viroid and general virus detection.

Scientists at the Thai Department of Fisheries have gained much recent experience with fish passage technology by studying how to keep watercourses open to enable fish to migrate to and from spawning grounds up river. They are now contributing to a Lao-based project to develop criteria for fish passage of floodplain species of central Laos. The information gained from their own investigations has contributed to the design of an experimental fishway in Laos that will facilitate fish movement.