Guidelines for Promoting Rice Exports of the Upper Northern Region 1

Abstract

     The objective of qualitative research is to search for a model of supply chain management for rice exports, ways to develop the potential of farmers' groups, agricultural cooperatives to be able to connect with rice exporters and rice export promotion strategies. The tools used were group discussion, observation and interview. The sample group consisted of farmers in the upper northern region 1, including Lampang, Lamphun, Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son provinces, and farmers under the Industrial Rice Farming Promotion Project (Big Plots), The exporters are Sawat Phaibun Rice Mill Company Limited, Rebert Rice Company Limited, Model farmer groups, producing organic crops, Hat Kruad Sub-district, Uttaradit Province, Ban Mae Prik Lum Organic Agriculture Community Enterprise Group Lampang Province, Phrao Agriculture Cooperative Limited, Chiang Mai Province and Thai Rice Exporters Association,. Samples are 50 in total. The data is analyzed by classification and systematization to answer questions and find the relationship of the data and the change process.

     The results of the study revealed that the model of rice chain management for export of the upper northern region 1 can be divided into 2 types according to the market, namely rice exporters, rice and parboiled rice markets as mass market and specific marketing groups as niche market. For the potential development guidelines for farmer groups, mills, and agricultural cooperatives to be able to connect with rice exporters of the upper northern region 1 in the future, it is found that all 3 groups have a corresponding connection point. The issues of creating a network, planning the production inspection system to meet the quality standards emphasize on managing trust from both within and outside the organization in each part of the upstream, midstream and downstream rice supply chains. For the strategy for promoting rice, exports should start by finding a clear downstream market in order to define the characteristics or standards of upstream rice production and develop midstream with GMP and HACCP standards in the rice processing process. New entrepreneurs who are interested in rice exporting investment and able to digital technology are developed under the support of the Government Operations Committee Education sector and the private sector, called the Right Team Rice Team. Personnel in the rice supply chain for export should have knowledge which can use analytical thinking to plan the production and distribution systematically.

Article history: Received 5 January 2023          

                           Revised 10 June 2023

                           Accepted 12 June 2023             

                           SIMILARITY INDEX = 3.15 %.....................