HHighland ighland RResearch and esearch and

DDevelopment evelopment IInstitutenstitute

Thai Highlands

Climatic conditions:• Heavy monsoon rainfall

• Low temperature (winter

season)

Areas:

• Total country area: 51 million ha

• North of Thailand: 17 million ha

- Lowland: 3 million ha

- Upland: 5 million ha

- Highland: 9 million ha (52% of the North, above 500 msl)

Thai Hill–tribe Population

• Hill–tribe population at 275,000 majority were Karen and

Hmong

• Living in 20 provinces of northern and western part of

Thailand

(UN Survey 1965 – 1966)

Unit: People, Thousands

Thai Highlands

Problems

1. Poverty

- No other crops grown in the

highlands

- Low yield of food crops + agri.

products

2. Deforestation

- Slash and burn cultivation

- Farming in altitude 1,000-1,400

msl

3. Opium poppy cultivation

- Cultivated area 17,920 ha

- Yield 10 kg/ha

- Farm gate price 20-30 $US/kg

(UNODC Survey, 1967)

Thai Highlands

Program Areas and Beneficiaries

Development Model

Land use

planning:

water and soil

conservation

Integration of

GOs and local

communities

Social and

community

development

Technology

transfer and

farm

demonstration

Production and

marketing

planning

Food security

Sufficient income

Better livelihood

Sound environment

1. Agricultural productivity 2. Postharvest and marketing 3. Biodiversity and natural 4. Social mechanism5. Area-based research program

Research ProgramsResearch Programs

Ame village

MaeChanLuang, Duangjasai

Jiangjasai, Santikiri

Moderate control of resources utilization,

development interventions supporting the

conservation

Conserved Forest

Buffer Zone

Soil and water conservation adopted in farming system

Soil and water conservation

-

Slope

Strictly control of resources utilization,

development intervention supporting the

conservation with public participation

Soil and water conservation adopted in farming system

Paddy rice

Elevation and Land Use

Development Goal

Food Security and Income Generating of Highland Communities

Living in Cohesion with Upstream Environment

Sound Environment in Upstream Watershed

Sufficient food cropsSector

ObjectivesAccess of Alternative

Crops and Careers

Research Projects

- Selection of pure seed line- Test of appropriate varieties- Improvement of soil fertility- Integrated pest control- Farming system- Native food/herbal plants

Increasing Food Crops Productivity

- Improving existing crops productivity- Introduction of new perennial and annual crops- Value added of indigenous knowledge

Agrodiversity and off-farm adoption

- Study of biodiversity index- Payment for ecosystem services- Social mechanism in envi. management- Rules and regulations

Economic and Social Incentives

Supporting and

Growth

Area-Based Research Program ConceptArea-Based Research Program Concept

1

8

Thank You