On June 14, 2021, Clinical Prof. Niwes Nanthachit, President of Chiang Mai University, along with the executive team, signed a memorandum of agreement on the application of rice research for agricultural and personnel development (the second amendment) with six Provincial Farmers Councils in Chiang Mai, Phetchabun, Uthai Thani, Nakhon Nayok, Si Sa Ket, and Nakhon Sawan. The event took place at the Inthanin Meeting Room at UNISERV CMU.
To develop high-quality rice breeds that will generate greater income for farmers, who are the foundation of the country, CMU applied the ion beam line technology to rice breeding and after a decade of research, a variety of breeds have been successfully developed to serve different purposes. The developed ‘ion beam line rice’ has been passed on to farmers through the CMU-Ratchaburi Model with the aim to guarantee at least 10,000 baht of income per rai (1,600 square metres). The implementation focuses on marketing over production, a closed system of farmer support, and rice quality control throughout production. The three selected rice breeds, which are high quality, yield high production, and have ensured market demands, are:
1. fragrant rice for consumption (MorChor 10-1) or FRK-1
2. rice for the flour industry (SorFor 10-5) or MSY-4, and
3. rice for the animal feed industry (SorFor 10-7) or OSSY-23.
Cultivation during 2019 and 2020 proved that the three breeds had great adaptability and yielded high-quality grains, resulting in great satisfaction among farmers and rice entrepreneurs. Thus, the CMU-Ratchaburi Model was further implemented in 15 provinces: Kanchanaburi, Kamphaeng Phet, Chai Nat, Pathum Thani, Prachin Buri, Pichit, Phitsanulok, Phrae, Lop Buri, Sara Buri, Sing Buri, Sukhothai, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Ang Thong and Uttaradit.
The expansion of results into other areas will help generate motivation and hope in the agricultural profession and a brighter future through increased incomes, reduced inequality, and quality of life improvement. It will also inspire younger generations to become interested in farming.
Figure 1 Expansion of results and follow-up of three Beam Line Rice Breeds - FRK-1 for consumption, MSY-4 for flour industryม and OSSY-23 for animal feed and parboiled rice at Phai Lom subdistrict, Lap Lae district, Uttaradit province, and Nong Bua subdistrict, Si Nakhon district, Sukhothai province.
Figure 2 Promotion of the Ion Beam Line Rice for animal feed and parboiled rice industry in ฟ large plantation under the collaboration between CMU and the Farmers Council of Nong Bua Subdistrict in Si Nakhon district, Sukhothai province.