- In line with Bayer Thai’s 60th year in the country, the “Better Farms, Better Lives 2.0” program aims to benefit 26,000 smallholder farmers in 11 provinces in the central and northeastern regions.
- Bayer Thai invests 26.7 million THB for the “Better Farms, Better Lives 2.0” to support smallholder farmers improve their crop yield, reduce production cost and enhance their technical knowhow.
- Bayer Thai collaborates with the Cooperative Cyber Brain Foundation and Kasetsart University as well as local community leaders to provide innovative weed control product and to develop 30 demonstration rice fields including agriculture-related training to smallholder farmers
May 22, 2022 - Bayer Thai Co., Ltd. in collaboration with the Cooperative Cyber Brain Foundation, Kasetsart University, the Rice Department and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, launched the “Better Farms Better Lives 2.0 program at New Theory Agriculture & Sufficiency Economy Learning Center in Tambon Sam Ngam Tha Bot, Hankha District, Chainat Province on 21 April and at the large rice field in Ban Sub Charoen, Rong Kham District, Kalasin Province on 6 May.
Bannered under its “Better Farms, Better Lives 2.0” initiative, the program aims to reach 26,000 smallholder farmers in 11 central and northeastern provinces who cultivate rice in a total land area of 300,000 rai.
Mr. Weraphon Charoenpanit, Country Commercial Lead of the Crop Science division for Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar, said that “Better Farms, Better Lives 2.0” marks the 60th anniversary of Bayer Thai Co., Ltd. With Bayer’s mission of “Health for all, Hunger for none,” the initiative is set to support smallholder farmers affected by the pandemic and the rising production costs.
“Better Farms, Better Lives 2.0 aims to promote new agricultural technology and innovations. An example is the use of drones in spraying pesticides to save on cost and time and reduce manual spraying operations. Key topics the program covered include the knowledge on rice field management, water management, pest management, breed selection and rice product processing to assure better outputs. As rice prices are out of farmers’ control, they need to improve the quality and output. That is Bayer Thai’s aspiration and we hope the knowledge will be passed on to next generations.”
“Better Farms, Better Lives 2.0” has trained 30-40 farmers as the trainers to transfer the knowledge. About 30 demonstration rice fields have been prepared. Online meetings through ZOOM application will take place every Monday at 13.30-14.30 to share knowledge on various aspects and answer farmers’ questions on field management for greater efficiency and safety.
Mr. Anan Phusitthikul, chairman of the Cooperative Cyber Brain Foundation, stressed the foundation’s emphasis on farmers’ household management and transfer of modern knowledge, expecting farmers to see the need of modern innovations. The foundation’s goal is better returns for farmers.
“Better Farms, Better Lives reflects participating organizations’ care about farmers’ quality of life. We seek to help them improve household management to reduce debts and want them to embrace innovations for better returns per production unit. Their returns are the heart of this development.”
The Cooperative Cyber Brain Foundation teamed up with Bayer Thai in launching the first phase of “Better Farms, Better Lives”. Then, the initiative sought to promote farmer groups and create farmer leaders. It involved in on-farm demonstration activities like microorganism development on the Department of Land Development’s land, rice management of the Department of Rice, and the Department of Agricultural Extension’s drone activation for greater efficiency. Such knowledge has been shared with communities through local administrative offices, village chiefs, etc.
The first phase of “Better Farms, Better Lives” was launched in 2020 when the COVID-19 broke out, covering 50,000 smallholder farmers. As the COVID-19 continue to persist, Bayer Thai decided to launch the second phase with a budget of Bt26.7 million. The target area is extended from the Central Region to the Northeastern Region, covering 11 provinces where wet rice cultivation is popular namely: Kalasin, Roi Et, Mahasarakham, Ayutthaya, Suphan Buri, Angthong, Singburi, Chai Nat, Phichit, Khon Kaen and Nakhon Ratchasima.
For more information, please contact
Bayer Thai Co., Ltd
Tel. 0 2232 7017
Email malee.jaeng-arun@bayer.com