I I - part - usaid

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The Pr3oect will requ.tre a considerab]e effort in
the deeopment of trainanq curricula and materials. To
help assure the manpowei for this ettort, the Pro]ect provides
for new MOAC positions of equipment specialist and
artist. The technical assistance component provides for an
expatriate training specialist k2-year term, and for a local
consultant in non-formal education,
6- Marketinq
Maiketing of inputs and produce is primarily a
private sector activity in Thailand. Most evidence indicates
that the private sector marketing apparatus in rural areas
is both efticient and competitive (e.g. 1980 Chulalongkorn
Univeisity Marketing Study; 1980 IBRD Agricultural Development
Strategy Review). However, there are also indications that
monopsonistic marketing practices exist in localized areas
(e.g. AID NESSI Pro~ect Sociai Analysis Survey), and that
marketing of some perishable ciops and newly introduced
crops is likely to be a piobiem in at least some areas
unless special care is given to strengthening marketing
linkages to the private sector.
Besides private merchants, tnere are a number of
cooperatives that engage in marketing of supplies and farm
products, but as of 1.980, only about 15% of the farm
population was served by cooperatives and most of these were
not fuil-service cooperative but only dealt with selected
marketing and/or other functions.
Nationa± pricing and exporr policies do affect the
market prices of present and potential crops, but Project
activities are generalLy directed towards improvement in
production of pioducts for well-developed national marketing
systems and for which little marketing assistance will be
required under the Prcject. With regard to .ice, the RTG
recently increased the support price of paddy by 25% and
early evidence suggrts that the increase has been very
favorably received by farmers and that the Government is
serious in implementing it. Purchasing/ storage is being
done through the private sector rice millers. Expanded
production of dry-season, high-vaiue crops in the Project
areas will, however, need to De carefuliy coordinated with
market availability and/or development. At present farmers
have no reasonably satistactory way of estimating the
market/price situation at harvest time for
This is an especially acute constrain J.cor
crops.
these crops.
highly perishable