Walailak University and Charoen Pokphand Foods (CP Foods) have signed an academic cooperation agreement for a project to provide firsthand experience on modern farming business for students and local farmers.
Under this agreement, CP Foods will provide THB10.75 million (US$334,970) as a financial support to set up three closed-operation swine farms with 650 pigs, a 5,000-capacity layer chicken farm, biogas system and electric generators to build a zero-waste farming system at Walailak University, a public university located in Thailand’s Nakhon Si Thammarat Province.
Professor Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, Walailak University’s president, said the project will encourage innovations and academic research through modern technologies. The innovative farm will be a learning area, giving new experience on livestock industry as well as eco-friendly farming to the students and local farmers.
Sombat expressed his appreciation for the company's financial support, knowledge and being a main buyer for products from this project. In addition, hands-on experience in integrated livestock business will enable students and farmers to produce animals with higher quality at lower cost.
“The university also plans to make the demonstrative farms as a regional learning center for students and farmers in the southern part of Thailand,” he said.
Sooksunt Jiumjaiswanglerg, CEO - Agro Industrial Business and co-president of CP Foods, said the company is looking forward to sharing its knowledge with Walailak University. The farm will be a learning place for students in innovative agriculture and the entrepreneurship program and other departments.
Sooksunt added that the partnership will raise the standard of livestock in Thailand with innovative approaches in accordance to the Thailand government’s 4.0 initiative.
“CP Foods has strong intention to develop Thailand’s education. We believe that our innovations, particularly the automatic farming systems, and knowledge will give a useful learning on smart farming management, livestock production, and effective waste managements to Walailak’s students, farmers and other relevant parties, leading to sustainable farming with less environmental footprint” he said.
