Monday December 18, 2023 – Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, on her personal intention, visited the KKU 60th Year Agricultural Exhibition and Demonstration Plots at the Agricultural Technology Park, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, which are under the Faculty’s role in sustainable development of Isan Agriculture.
At 13;30 p.m., HRH’s car left the Golden Jubilee Convention Center for the Agricultural Technology Park, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University. Mr. Kraisorn Kongchalad, Khon Kaen Governor; Dr. Narongchai Akrasanee, Chairman of Khon Kaen University Council; Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University; the University Council members, administrators; Assoc. Prof. Darunee Jotishyangkoon, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, lecturers, staff and students stood in line in front of the park to greet HRH the Princess, while Mrs. Ratree Saokosol, Khon Kaen Vice Governor’s wife and Assoc. Prof. Siripawee Jaroenwatanasak, Ph.D., presented to HRH flower garlands.
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn next went into the ceremonial pavilion. Assoc. Prof. Panupon Hongpakdee, Ph.D., presented to HRH the brochure and news leaflet while Assoc. Prof. Darunee Jotishyangkoon, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture presented HRH an amount of money for HRH’s royal intention of expenditure. Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., delivered the report, part of which was: “The Faculty of Agriculture of Khon Kaen University was a pioneer faculty that was founded at the same time Khon Kaen University was found, with collaboration and support from the Government of New Zealand on the part of the lecture building. The building was used as the ceremonial building on the foundation day, when His Majesty King Rama IX and Her Majesty the Queen came to presided over the ceremony, on December 20, 1967.”
“Some sixty years have passed from that historical event until today, during the period of which lecturers, staff and students of the Faculty of Agriculture have collaboratively created and developed the agricultural sector of this region, upgraded the income and status of the people with the knowledge and innovations in farming, cultivars and production-related technologies.”
After listening to the report, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Srindhorn went from the ceremonial pavilion on an EV to see the exhibition and activities related to plant cultivars, plant production and plots of varieties of plants.
The next part of the visiting program of Her Royal Highness was at the 1st House of Plant Production and Exhibition where flower production innovations and cash fruits were shown along with the Night interruption technique and water use follow-up technology of cash fruits (Xap flow); the 2nd House that exhibited the cultivars and innovations for vegetable production (chilies and tomatoes); the 3rd House that exhibited high-value plant cultivars in the group of hemps; and the 4th House that exhibited elevated organic vegetable production. From the four houses, HRH visited the “Innovations in Cash Crop and Animal Production: the role in sustainable development of Isan Agriculture.
The 60th Year Agricultural Exhibition and Demonstration Plots: 60th Year Agricultural Exhibition and Demonstration Plots was aimed at showcasing the research and development works of the lecturers and staff of the faculty to interested farmers and the public. The Exhibition was divided into:
The First Part: Exhibition of Plant Cultivars which have been developed by lecturers and researchers of the Faculty of Agriculture, including chilies, tomatoes, KKU 60-1 rice cultivar and KKU 60-2 rice cultivar, high-value crops, 4 cultivars of cannabis namely, KKU01, KKU60-8, KKU60-9, and KKU60-11; and 2 cultivars of hemps: KKU05 and KKU60-7; KKU 60 soy bean, KKU corn, and innovations in production of flower plants, cash crops, the night interruption technique, and Xap flow technique.
The Second Part: Exhibition of innovations in plant productions and economics animal production, showcasing the roles of the lecturers and researchers of the Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University in sustainable development of the regional agriculture through the use of technologies and innovations as well as environmentally friendly production such as: using drones for testing sugar cane quality, production of sugar cane by reducing dry stalk burning in order to lessen PM 2.5, transferring of bio-fermented water production technology from fermented fish residues and cassava production in order to reduce costs; technology for producing bio-products for controlling diseases and insects; management of plant nutrients by using Vermi-tech; management of animal feeds to lessen methane release; and development of meat chicken production and eggs for sustainable development.
Asst. Prof. Jirawat Sanitchon, a lecturer of the Department of Field Crops and a Rice Cultivar developer of KKU 60-1 and KKU 60-2 explained that the rice exhibition this year showed KKU 60-1 and KKU 60-2 that have undergone improvement for 18 years. The Kor Khor 6 cultivar, to celebrate the 60th year of Khon Kaen University foundation, has been improved into fragrant sticky rice. The former Kor Khor 6 has weak resistance to disease of dry leaf rims and burns. KKU 60-1 and KKU 60-2 were used to help resist the two diseases as well as making the cultivar resistant to saline soil. Its stalk is stronger without bending. Moreover, the rice can be grown in the season and out of season.
“I’m honored to report to Her Royal Highness the Princess the KKU 60-1 and KKU 60-2 rice cultivars of Khon Kaen University. I’m proud to be able to use these cultivars to help the Isan farmer community. Isan farmers, especially the NaPhu Organic Farming Enterprise group, Nonghang Sub-district, Kuchinarai DIstrict, Kalasin, have produced good production and raised incomes for their families from the acceptance of consumers.”
Mr. Teerapat Wajasat and Mr. Satapat Utthamma, student representatives reported to Her Royal Highness about the innovation agricultural program of the Faculty. They said that they were excited and happy to represent the students by reporting about the elevated organic vegetable growing that has passed the standard certification of organic farming in 2022. This is the innovation for growing salad vegetables that solves the problem of water clogged places or places with a lot of weeds. The technique also suits the elderly for they don’t have to bend down to collect the produces. The research team expects this innovation to build sustainable income to the community, too.
News: Phanit Khatnak