Environmental research

Target area is a rain-fed farming community without any irrigation system. As a modern rule, farming practice and daily livelihood depend more and more upon chemicals and fossil fuels. In order to ensure water supply to farming practice, the Thai government had provided a deep well with hand pump for target community but this supply could not meet with the demand. Realizing the potential of renewable energy and with the assistance of the government s regional centre for renewable energy promotion, the community had initiated the project to pump water from the deep well with wind energy and to efficiently use solar energy for processing agricultural products. In addition to the application of renewable energy to avoid resorting to fossil fuel and scarce fire-woods, the bank realized the need for practicing sustainable agriculture to reduce/avoid the use of chemicals which are harmful to local and ,eventually, global environment. Project goals or objectives (including GEF problem-area addressed by projects): 1.To efficiently use renewable energy in farming practice and food processing 2.To promote occupation and up-grade agricultural practice and food processing 3.To build capacity of community in a participatory way Activities to be carried out under project: 1.Procuring and installing a wind pump system storage tank and piping system 2.Procuring and installing a hybrid solar-biomass heater 3.Building capacity of community members through open forum and study tours 4.Formulating plan for launching sustainable agriculture and food processing Project participants and/or beneficiaries: Department of Community Development, Phatthalung Provincial Industrial Office, Phatthalung Provincial Land Development Office, Department of Agricultural Extension and Department of Energy Development and Promotion Anticipated results of project: 1.The wind pump avoids the use of electricity by 5,986 kwh/year, equivalent to a saving of Baht: 11,972 / year , or avoids the use of diesel fuel by 825 litres/year, equivalent to a saving of Baht: 11,961/year 2.The hybrid solar-biomass heater avoids the use of fire-woods by 365 cu.m /year, equivalent to a saving of Baht: 29,200/year , or avoids the use of canned gas by 182 cans/year, equivalent to a saving of Baht: 36,500/year , or avoided electrical energy by 8,760 kwh/year, equivalent to a saving of Baht: 17,520/year 3.Emergence of a clear management plan and action plan to carry out the sustainable agriculture and up-to-standard food processing

Thailand