Official Study Visit for the Swamy Ramananda Tirtha Rural Institute, Hyderabad

Official Study Visit for the Swamy Ramananda Tirtha Rural Institute Hyderabad - Thailand, 11-14 October 1998

Background

SEAMEO Secretariat as the executive arm of the Ministers of Education Council in Southeast Asia has administered various programmes to enhance human resource development in the field of education, science and culture in the region. One of the programmes is to arrange educational study tour for those who requested. On
11-14 October 1998, SEAMEO Secretariat organized a study tour for the Indian delegations from the Swamy Ramananda Tirtha Rural Institute, Hyderabad, India.

Objectives

The main objective of the visit is to familiarize the visitors with some Thai rural developmental projects together with H.M. The King’s Private Project.

There were eight members in the group,which was led by Dr K Siva Prasada Rao, the Minister for Rural Development , Government of Andhra Pradesh, together with Professor T Navaaneeth Rao. The Chairman of SRT Rural Institute,
Mr Ramakanth Reddy, Secretary of the Rural Development, Mr S P Tucker, Commissioner, Rural Development, Mr V Raghavan, Chief Engineer of the SRT Rural Institute and others.

Activities

SEAMEO Secretariat organized a full two days’ study tour for the group. The first stop was at the Royal Chitralada Projects (H.E. The King’s Private Project) at Chitralada Palace in Bangkok. The three hours’visit includes the Chitralada Dairy farm, the Milk Processing plant, The Fruit Juice Canning unit and the Paper Mulberry Cultivation and "Saa" paper Manufacture. The group also listened to the video briefings of the whole project.

In the afternoon the group went to Chinat province to visit the Foundation for Thailand Rural Reconstruction Movement Under Royal Patronage (TRRM) where Dr Kuntoon Chaiyaset, the Deputy Director of the TRRM gave the briefings . The group was also welcomed by the governor of the Chainat province.

The TRRM is the first organization to practice an integrated approach to rural development to promote self-reliance among the underprivileged and sense of community in rural societies, in terms of development of occupations, education, and health.

The group visited three sites as part of the tour namely the wickerware group, the SuanLamyai housewives’ group for herbal shampoo products and the NikomKaodin group.

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The next day was a trip to Chachoengsao province to visit the Khao Hin Sorn Royal Development Study Center, in Phanom Sarakarm district. The director of the Centre, Mr Kriangsak Hongtor gave the briefings of the Center and led the group for the tour of the facilities.

The Khao Hin Sorn Royal Development Study Center was established following the initiative of H.E. the King to be a model of sustainable agricultural development. It was the first center to be established throughout the major regions of Thailand. The Study Center consists of 1227 rai and the Research Center consists of 642 rai. There are six objectives for this center:

	1.	To serve as the source of knowledge on agricultural development.
	2.	To serve as a center for transferable appropriate technology on occupational development for farmers.
	3.	To serve as a training center for farmers on agricultural technology and handicraft skills.
	4.	To produce high yield seeds and good breeding animals.
	5.	To increase the farmer’s income.
	6.	To serve as education source and recreation area for people.

Last updated: 02 November 2001

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