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Pattani is one of the largest fishing district in Thailand.
It has a sizable fishing armada of 4000 boats supplying
about $200m of fishery products each years to the local
economy.
On
May 2nd, 2006, it was reported that 1,200 of them were
grounded due to high fuel price. Fuel cost is probably one
of the largest cost component on a fisherman's account. The
immediate impact of this crisis is the worsening of local
socio-economic environment.
Bio-diesel production could present itself as the ultimate
tool towards sustainable development.
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Local farmers are encouraged to participate in bio-crop
cultivation especially on waste land that were
previously unproductive. Putting unused land to
productive use provides additional income stream for the
farming community. Jatropha BEX capacity to produce good
yield on bad soil offers low cost opportunity to
community cultivation scheme.
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Commercial cultivation on the other hand, offer new
employment opportunity for the same rural folks. Ease of
farm maintenance and harvesting works allows
participation by all groups of work force including
women folks and school going children.
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High tech Jatropha-BEX
farm receiving
State Government
Delegation from Malaysia |
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Keen observation in
jatropha-BEX nursery |
Visitation to Contract
Farming Area |
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Observing the layout of
nursery |
Delegates surveying
layout of
jatropha-BEX plantation |
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Production of bio-diesel provides the fishery industry
cheaper option for their boating needs and offer a
significant level of cost stability to their day to day
operation.
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Bio-diesel can also be used
to fuel power generation need, providing much needed
rural electrification infrastructure on self-sufficient
level. BioEnergy cluster program is environmentally
friendly and helping to do away with heavy transmission
cost.
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Excess bio-diesel product can be sold to bring in new income
stream for the
rural economy.
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From socio-economic perspective, stability in the fishery industry is a boast to the
seafood processing industry and all other related
industries.
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CONTRACT FARMING |
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Jatropha-BEX offers
high and consistent yield through out the year
on marginal land. It is a lucrative rural
development tool providing work and income
opportunities to rural communities including
women folks. |
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Seedling Handing
over
ceremony for
contract farmer |
Fruit harvesting is
easy and light work |
Women folks enhance
farm product value by removing fruit shells |
More about Bio-diesel
HERE
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Bio-Diesel
Technology
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What's
Bio-diesel?
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