The Department of Agricultural Extension lauds large cassava plantation in Wang Muang, Saraburi, as BCG Model Farm

     The innovative agricultural model, BCG (Bio-Circular-Green Economy), used at the large cassava farm in Wang Muang, Saraburi, is being celebrated as an exemplary model of BCG farming. This model not only features outstanding management practices, but also places great emphasis on the environment, fostering balance and sustainability. It adds value to produce, maximizes the use of agricultural waste, and ensures environmentally friendly production. Various technologies and innovations are applied, including knowledge exchange and support from governmental bodies, private sector, educational institutions, and farmer networks, all aimed at achieving the three primary objectives of the BCG Model: high efficiency, high standards, and high income.

     The Department of Agricultural Extension supports this farming approach by encouraging the use of clean and locally appropriate crops, fertilizer usage based on soil analysis, soil tillage, and drip irrigation systems. It also aids in the development of Smart Farmers (SF), Young Smart Farmers (YSF), and farmer leaders, fostering producer networks and promoting the use of modern or smart agricultural technologies. The Department also supports the use of tractors, drones, cassava leaf cutters, and truck scales. The operation collaboratively manages all parts of cassava farming, including the handling of waste from production, using roots, stems, and leaves as soil conditioners, creating value from waste, such as using cassava stems for charcoal production with smokeless biomass stoves. The knowledge network center at Chulalongkorn University in Saraburi also showed support for  this initiative.

     Meanwhile, the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives provides support in the form of loans and business planning, budgeting for the implementation of smart drip irrigation systems. The Department of Ground Water Resources and the Provincial Energy Office support solar cell systems for groundwater pumping to store water in tanks, which is later released onto the cassava fields. This results in a production cost reduction of 23% from using fertilizer based on soil analysis, while the use of drip irrigation systems has increased farmers' income on average from processing by 16,800 baht per acre. The Department of Agricultural Extension will further develop and use these management techniques as a model for other farmer groups.

Data updated on May 16, 2023
Source: National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA)
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