Khon Kaen University mobilizes researchers to assist Ban Phue, Nong Rua District in upgrading “Pickled fish from knifefish” for safe and standard food products

November 28, 2021 – The Northeast Science Park, Khon Kaen University, the node for the Northeast Science Park operations, led by officers and industrial coordinators visited the site to evaluate the project, “Upgrading the quality, standard, and safety of pickled fish products from knifefish for commercial purpose”. The work is the research outcome of Asst. Prof. Khanit Wichitpan, a lecturer of the Faculty of Technology, Khon Kaen University and the project head and his team. The visit was aimed at transferring the technology to the community, which consisted of housewife group of Ban Phue Sub-distruct, Nong Rua District, Khon Kaen. The event took place at the Suk Sala pavilion of the sub-district.

The project began when the Science Park conducted a survey and evaluated the needs and potential of the community and found that the housewife group of Ban Phue Sub-distruct, Nong Rua District, Khon Kaen, live close to Ubonrat Dam. This enables them to hold both farming and fishing occupations besides other supplementary occupations outside the rice season such as growing vegetables, weaving, and hiring labor. Their OTOP products are known and available in the community and areas nearby. The products are manufactured from fresh water fish, including pickled fish, pickled knifefish, pickled whole fish, and dried fish, etc. From the survey of the community’s potentiality, it was found that people were affected by the spread of the Corona virus Covid-19 and were assisted by being employed under the employment project of the Faculty of Technology, KKU from July until September, 2020.  The survey revealed an important problem in developing products of the community, i.e., they lack knowledge and suitable technology for their production, quality control, standard, and product safety. They also lack knowledge in designing and developing packages, how to sell and expand the market.

The Science Park therefore connect specialized researchers from the Faculty, Asst. Prof. Khanit Wichitpan, who is knowledgeable and experienced in research work on pickled fish and his team to help transfer the technology to the community. The Science Park also invited experts in designing and developing packaging from the Faculty of Architecture and a marketing expert from the Faculty of Business Administration and Accountancy to share their experiences to the targeted community in order to upgrade their products’ quality and standard.

The Tech transfer to Community activity is one activity under the Area-based Innovation for Community Plan, which has been subsidized by the Regional Quality of Life and Economy Upgrading Using Innovation and Wisdom Project under the Promotion and Coordination Division for Science Research and Innovation, Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. The work is implemented through the mechanism of the Regional Science Park and is aimed at upgrading the regional entrepreneurs who are affected by Covid-19 so that the national socio-economic situations will be improved from the innovations and technology transfer.

Photos / Information: Araya

[Thai]

Scroll to Top