HARIPUR: A group of local farmers from Haripur will soon visit Thailand to study and develop practical approaches for applying the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) to strengthen communities in Jab village.
Former union council nazim and team leader Malik Rashid Zaman, told reporters on Saturday that the visit aims to help farmers learn sustainable development practices under the SEP framework.
The SEP is a development approach advocated by the late king of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej. It emphasises the ‘Middle Path’ of living, focusing on moderation, reasonableness and resilience (self-immunity) to achieve balance, stability and protection against external and internal shocks.
The study tour will take place between June 27 and July 8 and include local farmers exclusively from Jab in Haripur and officials of KP’s agriculture department.
According to Zaman, Thailand’s ambassador to Islamabad Rongvudhi Virabutr had, during a special visit to Jab village last year, announced making it one of the model villages of the country.
The selected group of 10 farmers and four officials will study the One Tambon One Product Programme and Thailand’s community development approaches for sustainable livelihoods and local economic development, product promotion, marketing strategies and market access for community-based products, waste segregation, recycling, community participation, and sustainable waste management practices.
When approached for comments, District Director of Agriculture Mumtaz Ahmed Khan confirmed that he was also tasked to accompany the visiting group of farmers to Bangkok by the KP government. He said that the scheduled study tour was being supported by the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA).
