Office of Agricultural Economics, Thailand | Source (Thai) | Download (Thai)
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in Thailand is acutely aware of the imperative to address food security challenges within urban areas. This urgency has been amplified by a significant demographic shift that occurred in 2019 when urban populations exceeded rural populations for the first time in the country's history. This trend underscores the ongoing process of urbanization within Thailand, where a striking statistic reveals that less than 10% of the population has the means to cultivate their own sustenance. Faced with this stark reality, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has proactively embarked on a mission to promote urban agriculture and cater to the needs of the modern era.
A key component of this strategy is the enthusiastic endorsement of organic agriculture. The overarching vision revolves around the expansion of organic farming practices. Between 2017 and 2021, a total of 342 initiatives were launched to drive the growth of organic farming. The overarching objectives include expanding organic farming areas by at least 1.3 million rai (equivalent to approximately 208,000 hectares) and engaging a minimum of 80,000 farmers in organic cultivation endeavors. Over this period, the value of organic agricultural produce exhibited an average annual growth rate of 3 percent.
Building upon this achievement, the strategic roadmap for organic agriculture spanning 2023 to 2027 has been unveiled. The new plan sets ambitious targets, aiming to increase organic agriculture areas to 2.0 million rai (approximately 320,000 hectares) and expand Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)-certified agriculture areas to 2.5 million rai (approximately 400,000 hectares) by the plan's conclusion. The plan encompasses critical development facets, including promoting research, technological innovation, and the creation of an organic agriculture database. It also focuses on enhancing production capacity and management across the organic agriculture supply chain, elevating standards and certification systems, and fostering greater awareness and marketing efforts to promote organic agriculture practices. This comprehensive strategy reflects Thailand's commitment to addressing food security challenges, nurturing sustainable agriculture, and ensuring a resilient future for its urban population.