Northeast rainfed agricultural development

Project will be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC). Improved farming practices suitable to rainfed conditions will be demonstrated and extended to 10,000 farm families. Some 13 cropping systems modifications - including intercropping and planting deep water rice and short-duration crops - will be implemented. The project will also provide villagers with short-term training and supplies for household poultry and large animal disease control and for fish, mulberry/silk, and fruit and tree crop production. Complementary research and demonstration activities will be integral to the project. MOAC extension resources will be doubled by assigning one extensionist to each 500 families. Housing and meeting facilities, transportation, tools, and training will be provided to make the extensionist the focus of local project activities. District, provincial, and regional officials will also be trained, and a mobile training unit will be made available at the regional level for concentrated training in project tambons. Training will also be provided for a total of 51 other project officials. About 500 farmers will be trained to help with extension activities, and 16,000 farmers will be trained through tambon- or village-level programs, radio broadcasts, and publications. Support environmental activities will be in the areas of land use planning, soil testing, weather station services and training, development of water resources for farm and home use, and the establishment/management of rangelands, watersheds, and fuelwood resources. Finally, an agricultural development process fitting farmer needs and government resources will be developed by creating a suitable administrative system for an area development project and through a village/tambon community action program.