Bangkok: The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) and the Area-Based Development Fund (ABDFD), has taken significant steps towards poverty eradication and inequality reduction in Thailand's Roi Et and Yasothon provinces. The initiative aims to improve five key livelihood areas by leveraging technology and research at the local level.
According to Thai News Agency, Professor Dr. Yotsanun Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, emphasized the collaborative effort with the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) and university networks to accelerate research that aligns with the socio-cultural needs of each community. The strategy focuses on the "five pillars of livelihood": human capital, economic capital, natural capital, physical capital, and social capital to create economic opportunities and ensure access to welfare.
During the field visit, seven innovative technologies were delivered to 14 community enterprises and occupational groups in the northeastern region. These included agricultural and herbal processing technologies, such as equipment for germinated brown rice production, essential oil distillation, vegetable dryers, fresh leaf slicers, and ozone-washing vegetable washers. In the livestock sector, technologies for low-cost Total Mixed Ration (TMR) feed and concentrate feed for Brahman crossbred cattle were introduced, utilizing local resources like fragrant jasmine rice from the Thung Kula Rong Hai region.
Mr. Nikorn Somklang, Minister of Social Development and Human Security, stated that the ministry will leverage data and insights from the TRF's research to enhance the social welfare system, ensuring it addresses the specific needs of vulnerable groups, including children, women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
Dr. Kitti Sajjawatana, Director of the Thailand Research Fund, outlined the poverty alleviation research process, which has been active in 20 pilot provinces since 2020. The framework comprises six steps: information verification, data synthesis for strategy design, welfare system integration, development of tailored poverty alleviation models, policy integration, and continuous monitoring.
This initiative is part of the National Research and Innovation Plan for Poverty Eradication, with higher education institutions and community colleges forming a network across Thailand to develop a sustainable assistance system.