Bangkok, July 17- Department of Agricultural Extension together with the Department of Agriculture and ARDA. Launched a project to expand production and use azolla to reduce production costs for farmers. Encouraging farmers to use azolla as green manure to reduce production costs, piloted in 9 provinces before expanding to cover the whole country. Preparing to submit to compete for the King Bhumibol World Soil Day Award on World Soil Day 2023.
Mr. Khaeng Yuthamdamrong, Director-General of the Department of Agricultural Extension said that The Department of Agricultural Extension together with the Department of Agriculture organized the project. “Expand production and use Azolla to reduce production costs for farmers” with research funding from the Agricultural Research Development Agency. (Public Organization) or ARDA. In the category of utilizing research and innovation results, it is believed that if encouraging farmers to produce and use Azolla as green manure will help reduce production costs.
Mr. Rapeepat Chantarasriwong, Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, said The research on Azolla is an achievement of the Department of Agriculture. By developing Azolla species, a type of floating fern that is small in size. It is like a biological nitrogen fertilizer plant. Because there is a nitrogen fixation process of blue-green algae living in the leaf cavity of Azolla. Azolla is useful in replacing or reducing the use of nitrogen chemical fertilizers. The Azolla species developed is Azolla microphylla is characterized by its large size and rapid reproduction.
In China and Vietnam, azolla has been used in rice fields for hundreds of years. for Thailand The Department of Agriculture has started to study the effectiveness of Azolla since 2011. 1977 found that rice cultivation using Azolla was a green manure before planting. yield of rice was equivalent to that of 10.5 kg of urea fertilizer per rai. Azolla that grows on the surface of the water in 1 rai of rice fields will yield up to 3,000 kilograms per rai. It can double its weight in just 2–3 days, yielding approximately 6–7.5 kg of nitrogen per rai.
for cooperation in the implementation of such projects Aims for farmers to have the knowledge and understanding to be able to produce and use Azolla to effectively reduce production costs. The use of Azolla will help farmers reduce the cost of using nitrogen fertilizers. add organic matter to the soil make the soil fertile Improve the soil structure in the long term. It helps to take care of the restoration of soil resources. It is in line with the government's BCG policy.
Director-General of the Department of Agricultural Extension said that According to a survey of production and use of Azolla through the Provincial Agriculture Office, it was found that The production and use of Azolla has been promoted in 743 districts in 73 provinces, with 96% being used in rice fields, animal feed, green manure and as a mixture of planting materials, respectively. get knowledge Technologies and innovations related to Azolla directly from the researchers of the Department of Agriculture. and extending the results to officials and farmers piloted in 9 provinces, namely Saraburi, Samut Songkhram, Rayong, Kalasin, Surin, Phang Nga, Phatthalung, Kamphaeng Phet and Phayao, operated through the Community Soil and Fertilizer Management Center (NESDB) that received an outstanding award in the district level NDD contest or provincial level In the past year, it is regarded as the National Anti-Corruption Commission with the potential and readiness to expand to the community.
The Director-General of the Department of Agriculture emphasized that the project "Expanding Production and Using Azolla to Reduce Production Costs for Farmers" was submitted to compete for the King Bhumibol World Soil Day Award on World Soil Day 2023 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Or FAO, set to meet on December 5th of every year to promote the development of soil quality and fertility. as it is the cornerstone of food security Therefore, good soil is not only necessary for the present. it is also the key to a sustainable future.-Thai News Agency
Source: Thai News Agency
