From May 25-26, 2024, the Project Steering Committee and the GETHAC Project Team embarked on an enlightening field visit to a mango plantation in Phrao District, Chiang Mai province. We were delighted to welcome our Project Steering Committee delegations from Germany which include Mr. Dieter Goertz, Deputy Head of Division 624, International Projects from Germany's Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), Ms. Anna Culca, Project Manager of GFA Consulting Group, Mr. Johannes Geisen, Project Manager/Senior Consultant of GOPA AFC GmbH and Mr. Frederik Tipp, Head of International Project of DLG International.
This field visit precedes our first ‘Project Steering Committee Meeting’ for the second phase of our project ‘Promoting Sustainability in Agricultural Production Systems through Innovation Networks’, which commenced on January 1, 2024. The visit aimed to provide the steering committee with insights into one of our demonstration projects focused on mango production, a significant crop in Chiang Mai renowned for its high quality.
The day began with a visit to the ‘Phrao District Agricultural Extension Office’, where local officers, led by Ms. Sukunya Manusaeng, Chief of local Phrao DOAE, and two representatives from the Mango Cluster Farm of Phrao District presented comprehensive overviews. Phrao local DOAE officers provided detailed information about Chiang Mai’s agricultural production, focusing on Phrao District’s mango cultivation. They covered agricultural production and target crops in Chiang Mai, specifics on mango production in Phrao District such as production area, yields, number of mango farmers, and details on the six main mango varieties in the district: Golden Nam Dok Mai, Maha Chanok, Chok Anan (Honey mango), Jin Huang, Red Emperor and Man Khun Sri.
The representatives from the Mango Cluster Farm Group shared exclusive insights into their practices, covering pre-production, production, and post-production stages. They highlighted the challenges they face, including climate change, pests and diseases, price instability, and labor shortages. Additionally, they discussed their development ideas for improving mango production, such as the need for tools or machinery to reduce labor use, establishing a learning plantation for best practices and new technology adoption, increasing yield and the shelf life of mangos, and exploring new market opportunities and mango processing methods.
In the afternoon, the German delegation, the GETHAC Project Team and local Phrao DOAE officers visited a local mango plantation. The Head of the Phrao Mango Cluster Farm Group, Mr. Charoen Khumsapha, welcomed us and led a tour, showcasing different mango varieties in his orchard and sharing his expertise in mango production, grading systems, and export markets. The steering committee engaged in fruitful discussions, exchanging ideas and gaining insights into mango cultivation— an agricultural pursuit less common in Germany, where mangoes are imported due to unsuitable local cultivation condition. The visit concluded with a tasting session of various mango varieties, followed by group photos and an exchange of souvenirs. It was a great opportunity for both sides to share, exchange and discuss about different expertise in terms of agricultural production between Germany and Thailand and to also enrich the understanding of Thailand’s diverse agricultural practices and challenges. This broader perspective is invaluable as we continue to steer our project towards sustainable agricultural development.
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