In a groundbreaking partnership that promises to transform rural livelihoods, Khon Kaen University researchers have joined forces with local farming communities to tackle agricultural challenges threatening food security and economic stability in Thailand’s Northeast.
Prof. Dr. Thidarut Boonmars, Vice President for Enterprise and Societal Sustainability at Khon Kaen University, led a high-powered delegation to asparagus and vegetable farming communities in Khon Kaen Province on February 15, 2025. The team, including agricultural experts Assoc. Prof. Dr. Petcharat Thummabenjapone and Asst. Prof. Dr. Sukanlaya Choenkwan, met with farmers who have been battling persistent crop diseases that devastate harvests and threaten their financial survival.
“We’re bringing the university’s expertise directly to the fields where it’s needed most,” said Prof. Dr. Thidarut Boonmars. “This isn’t just about academic research—it’s about creating real solutions that improve farmers’ yields, secure their livelihoods, and strengthen food production across the region.”
The initiative targets two key farming groups: the Wang Sawap Sub-district asparagus farmers led by chairperson Ms. Piyamas Saensunon, and the Chai So Sub-district vegetable producers headed by Ms. Poonsap Upseeda. Both leaders expressed urgent concerns about plant diseases decimating their crops and threatening their communities’ economic stability.
Ms. Waraporn Phiewphanngam, Deputy Director of the Center for Enterprise and Societal Sustainability, and Ms. Sunantha Muenkaewnapa from the Khon Kaen Provincial Agricultural Office joined the discussions, helping to craft a comprehensive support strategy that will include specialized training in disease management, standardized production systems, and value-added processing techniques.
This collaboration represents a crucial step toward achieving sustainable agriculture in Thailand’s Northeast, directly supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals while providing a model for university-community partnerships that deliver tangible benefits to rural populations facing environmental and economic challenges.
