"Department of Agricultural Extension" The Department of Agricultural Extension has launched a project to develop farmers' knowledge and potential, focusing on Reskill–Upskill to elevate farmers and officials to become entrepreneurs in the digital agricultural market.
Mr. Weerasak Boonchern, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Agricultural Extension, revealed that the department has organized a project to develop farmers' knowledge and potential to strengthen skills in business, marketing, and digital technology through the Reskill–Upskill process. This aims to push farmers to become new-generation entrepreneurs skilled in agricultural markets, both offline and online.
The project employs an active learning approach, particularly in developing business plans and market managers, reviewing case studies of model farmer market management, designing natural packaging into eco-packaging, marketing photography and videography techniques, using technology to upgrade modern agricultural businesses, live-streaming sales on online platforms, and adapting agricultural businesses to respond to climate change impacts.
Additionally, the event includes a showcase competition under the concept “Outstanding Agricultural Products from Farmer Markets of All 77 Provinces.” These are unique products from farmer markets or the website www.ตลาดเกษตรกรออนไลน์.com, as well as notable products from each province. The competition aims to develop skills in business, product and service presentation, communication, strategic concept presentation, teamwork, and to widely promote potential agricultural products.
The competition is divided into three categories: products sold in department stores, products showcased at exhibitions, and products sold in farmer markets. Participants are required to creatively display and present their products and services.
The competition results awarded first prize to the Agricultural Extension and Development Office 4 in Khon Kaen Province for bamboo shoot and ready-to-eat bamboo shoot soup products produced by the New Farmer Incubator Community Enterprise from Mukdahan Province. The first runner-up was the Agricultural Extension and Development Office 3 in Rayong Province with the Snack Bar Rice ME product, produced by the Community Occupational Promotion Enterprise of Koh Kok from Rayong Province. The second runner-up was the Agricultural Extension and Development Office 5 in Songkhla Province for the Tubtim Siam pomelo product, produced by the Large-Scale Tubtim Siam Pomelo Group from Pak Phanang, Songkhla Province.