Thailand

Benefits of Past Projects

Increasing and improving fruit production

ACIAR projects on postharvest handling and disinfestation of tropical fruits have resulted in improved storage and longer shelf-life that have allowed the expansion of tropical fruit exports, especially longans. According to a recent independent economic assessment the research is expected to return more than 1 billion baht to Thailand over 30 years.Enhanced storage and non-chemical disinfestations techniques have the potential to open up markets for mangosteen, pomelo, rambutan, durian, lychees and a range of other fruits.

There is strong demand for temperate fruits in Thailand, but domestic production is limited and most temperate fruits are imported. Until recently local temperate fruit has been of poor quality and sold only in centres close to cultivation. ACIAR-funded research has identified varieties of stone fruit trees that require very little winter chilling to produce fruit and are proving suitable for growing in the hilly regions of northern Thailand.

Apricots, plums, persimmons, peaches, nectarines and pears are now being grown as a result of the project work.Orchard management techniques have been improved, including watering, disease and pest management and specialised pruning to boost fruit production.At present the temperate fruits are produced for the local markets and the booths of the Royal Project Foundation in Bangkok, but prospects are bright for future expansion.

A project investigating fruit flies has helped identify the species occurring in Thailand, where they occur, which commercially grown fruits each species breeds in, and how to control them in environmentally friendly ways. These studies are helping Thailand to address the quarantine problems affecting its fruit export industries.

Creating a sustainable fishing industry

Research on the development of new fish feeds has contributed to a 50% increase in the artificial culture of the hybrid walking catfish in Thailand. The research enabled more than 12,000 resource-poor fish farmers to replace fishmeal with cheaper, locally available alternatives. Thousands of farmers in Thailand have learned about the new feeds through the project's extension booklets.

Tree improvement

Wood is the main energy source for many smallholder farmers throughout Thailand, however, deforestation results in a shortage of supply.Increasing supplies through tree plantations is the best option to meet this shortfall.Fast-growing tree varieties suitable for Thai conditions include Eucalypts and Acacias, both Australian natives.ACIAR supported research introduced and improved varieties of fast-growing eucalypts and acacias.E. camuldulensis can be used for firewood and household construction, and has industrial applications in paper and pulp production and as a solid timber.A. auriculiformis has a variety of applications at the smallholder level, from fuelwood to charcoal production.Each year more than 10,000 hectares of plantation lands are planted to these improved varieties.

Water hyacinth control

A project on the biological control of water hyacinth has led to a significant reduction in weed levels in Lake Phayao (N Thailand) and in Lake Thale Luang north of Hat Yai in southern Thailand. The control agents (two beetles and a moth) have been established in rivers and canals in many other parts of Thailand. National Biological Control Research Centre staff have gained expertise in safe, practical biological control operations.

Better breeding and disease control in cattle

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is endemic in Thailand. Past projects on FMD diagnosis and control have enabled Thailand to develop skills to diagnose both dormant strains of the disease and those causing outbreaks. The technology is now available in all regional veterinary research and development laboratories in Thailand.

The strong diagnostic capability at the northern Regional Laboratory in Lampang, where the research was based, has made Thailand a leader in FMD diagnosis in Asia.A rapid test for FMD diagnosis, produced through this research has reduced waiting times for results from several days to a matter of hours.

A project on genetic improvement of Thai beef cattle and buffalo has seen the successful implementation of BREEDPLAN as the national genetic evaluation system.BREEDPLAN enables superior genetic traits in cattle and buffalo progeny to be identified, improving the design of breeding programs.This has changed the basis of selection from phenotype to genetic basis.In addition a uniform set of tools and selection strategy is in place.

Crop improvements and better grain storage

The rice crop in northeast Thailand is affected by unpredictable rainfall on poor soils. ACIAR research, linked to other research projects with the International Rice Research Institute and the Rockefeller Foundation, has led to the development of drought-tolerant rice varieties with shorter growing cycles, and new culture techniques are changing the way farmers grow their rice in rainfed areas.IRRI estimates that these new benefits will deliver $18 million in benefits to Thailand.

An ACIAR project on genetic improvement of soybeans developed new genotypes that yield well, resist disease, and have good levels of seed oil and protein.The Ministry of Agriculture has provided 1 million baht to support seed production, distribution and promotion of the cultivar. Other lines are undergoing pre-release testing.Saturated soil culture is being used in central Thailand to produce high quality green beans.The project has also seen more than 10 Thai scientists receive training in Australia on the latest crop improvement techniques.

ACIAR-funded research led to the development of a mobile fluidised-bed grain dryer. Benefits of the dryer include reduced aflatoxin related livestock losses, improved nutritional quality and less use of local roads as drying beds, freeing up transport congestion.More than one million tonnes of rice is dried using the fluidised beds.The scientists behind the innovative dryer have won two prestigious national awards in Thailand.