Final Report: Agricultural Sector Analysis in Thailand

Abstract

<p>The Agricultural Sector Analysis project in Thailand was initiated July 1, 1973,as a cooperative program between the Royal Thai Government and the United States Government. Royal Thai Government participation was provided by the Division of Agricultural Economics of the Ministry of Agricultural and Cooperatives with U.S. participation provided by Iowa State University. Funding for the project was furnished by the United States Agency for International Development and by the Royal Thai Government through the Department of Technical and Economic Cooperation. The project was funded initially for two years. It was subsequently extended to six years ending June 30, 1979.</p> <p>Purpose of the Agricultural Sector Analysis project was to improve the ability of the Royal Thai Government to make decisions affecting agriculture. In support of project goals, large-scale national and regional models have been constructed that allow evaluation of tradeoffs and comparison of alternatives in agricultural policy and developmental programs. The first generation models and complementary research activities have provided detailed and operational policy planning information for use by policymakers and planners in evaluation of agricultural development potentials and policy alternatives. Effective utilization of project output and successful accomplishment of project goals was confirmed by the 1978 Project Evaluation Team which included the following evaluation statements among its numerous positive findings: <ul> <li>The project has succeeded in its mission of establishing a high caliber operational capability for applying agricultural economic analysis to government policy problems in an action setting.</li> <li>The basic economic logic underlying the modeling of the agricultural sector is sound and the results obtained are reliable.</li> <li>Models have been used in a variety of ways to aid policy making at national and local levels.</li> <li>Activities of the project have impacted rural poverty because of the emphasis on incomes in agriculture and low income regions such as the Northeast.</li> <li>The capability which has been developed has been successfully institutionalized.</li> <li>Because an influence on major policies affecting agriculture is achieved by a project of this kind at a low cost, relatively speaking, it is a cost effective way of promoting agricultural and income distribution objectives, and thus is cost effective in favorably affecting the lives of Thai rural farmers.</li> </ul></p> <p>This report summarizes accomplishments of the Agricultural Sector Analysis project in Thailand during a six-year period ending June 30, 1979. Accomplishments described are a result of the cooperative research effort carried out by the Division of Agricultural Economics of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Royal Thai Government, and the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development of Iowa State University.</p>