InfoQuest (August 21, 2019) -- The Cooperative Promotion Department is going to hold 2019 cooperative product exhibition themed on "Fresh (High-quality Meat, Milk, Eggs, Vegetables and Fruit) from Farm Co-op" from August to September 2019 across the country, according to Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Mananya Thaiset. The first cooperative product exhibition will be held in Central Plaza Rama III on August 23-25, and then the campaign will be extended to 15 provinces in the country, including Surat Thani, Phayao, Phitsanulok, Chiang Rai, Phetchabun, Uthai Thani, Burirum, Nong Khai, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Si Sa Ket, Sakon Nakhon, Kalasin, Ratchaburi, and Yala. The exhibitions will provide a great opportunity for cooperative producers in different fields, especially for those specialized in animal products such as meat, milk and eggs. After standardized processing, products from the cooperatives can be displayed at the exhibitions and sold directly to consumers. Business negotiation platforms for cooperatives and private sector will also be set up at the exhibition to help cooperatives get a picture of the market direction and consumer demand of relevant products, thus driving cooperatives to develop and produce products according to the market demand.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives attaches great importance to enhancing farmers’ ability in producing accepted products, promoting processing to add value to agricultural products, expanding the direct-to-consumer marketing channels, managing farm products through cooperative system, as well as encouraging farmers to produce quality products which it will buy for processing purpose, and working with the private sector to seek consumers at domestic and overseas markets.
Currently, agricultural cooperatives enjoy competitiveness in a wide range of products, particularly consumer products, including plant products (rice, vegetables and fruit), animal by-products (beef cattle, milk, and eggs), and various processed products (coffee, processed food and dairy products). The cooperatives also export these products to neighboring countries.
Anyway, what matters most is to ensure product safety and quality during the production process. Agricultural cooperatives should join hands with the Department of Agriculture to develop products that are safe for both farmers and consumers, so as to build consumers' confidence in cooperative products. The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives strongly shores up cooperatives to develop marketing channels so that consumers can purchase products directly from farmers, enabling farmers to have a stable income and a better life. Farmers can send their children to school, and these children will be engaged in the cause to develop cooperatives when finishing school education.
Mr. Phichet Wiriyapaha, deputy director-general of the Cooperative Promotion Department, said processed products from cooperatives have been recognized by consumers at home and abroad. The Cooperative Promotion Department has helped cooperatives to purchase and process various types of products. In particular, in 2018, the department allocated funds from the mid-year budget aiming at agricultural sustainable development projects to cooperatives to purchase processing equipment. Meanwhile, it worked with the Ministry of Science and Technology Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research and the National Food Institute applied research achievements and innovative technologies to the development and improvement of cooperative production, processing and packaging. This move aimed to get high-quality characteristic products, so as to increase the added value of products and increase the price of products.
There is still a lot of room for growth for livestock products, which serve as an important growth point for the businesses of cooperatives. Due to the high demand for animal products such as beef, eggs and dairy products, cooperatives generates up to 7.729 billion baht annually through processing and sales in this field.
There are 99 dairy cooperatives in Thailand, which produce 2000 tons of milk (100 percent pure milk) per day, accounting for 57.38 percent of the whole milk supply system (3,413 tons/day). Cooperatives have their own milk processing plants obtaining Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and Halal certification. A wide range of products can be processed here, including Pasteurized milk, UHT milk, yogurt, milk ice cream and milk slices, which are mainly sold in modern trade shops, such as Tops Friendly Markets, Tesco Lotus, Big C, Makro, FamilyMart, Maxvalu and Seven-Eleven.
Of these, Wang Nam Yen Dairy Cooperative Limited exports UHT milk to Cambodia and China, which creates more than 31 million baht each year, whilst Nongpho Ratchaburi Dairy Cooperative Limited exports UHT milk to Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia through export houses.
Thailand has 75 beef cattle cooperatives distributing in 37 provinces. These cooperatives have about 13,500 members, and 120,000 cattle, accounting for 57% of the total cattle in the country. A number of cooperatives provide support and assistance to farmers in raising cattle and are highly competitive in producing quality beef.
And five layer cooperatives are located in Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Ang Thong, Chiang Mai, and Nong Khai. All the farms of the cooperative members have passed Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) audit, and obtained "OK Animal Products (Credible Production of Quality)" certification as well. The cooperative buys fresh eggs from its members and sells the products in cooperative shops, community fairs, government agencies, hospitals, restaurants and modern trading malls.
Source: InfoQuest, by Tanawat Suayaem / Rachada, translated by Xinhua Silk Road
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