Scenarios for a Scaling-up System for Organic Cassava Production in the Mekong River Basin: A Foresight Approach

Benjamas Kumsueb, Sukit Rattanasriwong, Siviengkhek Phommalath, Nareth Nut, Jun Fan, Hong Xuan Do and Attachai Jintrawet ()
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Benjamas Kumsueb: Agricultural Resource Management Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Sukit Rattanasriwong: Independent Researcher, 188/25 Karnkanok Ville 15, Saraphi District, Chiang Mai 50140, Thailand
Siviengkhek Phommalath: Rice and Cash Crop Research Center, National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute, Vientiane P.O. Box 7170, Laos
Nareth Nut: Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh 12400, Cambodia
Jun Fan: Institute of Food Crops, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650200, China
Hong Xuan Do: Center for Technology Business Incubation and Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Nong Lam University—Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City 721400, Vietnam
Attachai Jintrawet: Independent Researcher, 133/9 Ban Phai Soi 10, Photharam Road, Chang Phueak, Muang District, Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: Organic cassava flour and products are in high demand. However, the expansion of organic cassava (OCS) production is rather slow. To increase OCS production, extension workers, cassava flour mills, farmers, and researchers have been collaborating to support the farmers, but the planted areas have remained limited. This research aimed at understanding the current issues in scaling up the organic cassava production. The findings were subsequently used to formulate scenarios and recommendations for the collaborative scale-up of organic cassava production in the Mekong River Basin (MRB). We carried out a six-step foresight process with leaders of organic cassava farmers, the staff of organic cassava flour mills and factories, extension workers, the staff of research agencies, and local policy makers in Thailand. The results revealed two key factors or drivers of changes, namely, the degree of collaboration among stakeholders using multiple-view scenarios or a single-view situation and the degree of learning and communication about OCS that future stakeholders are likely to experience. Four possible scenarios for a scaling-up system of OCS production in the MRB were developed. The foresight process allowed for recognizing multiple views and opinions about the OCS production scaling-up process, considered as a whole system. The system was found to consist of various interdependent components. The process highlighted the need to increase the capacity and opportunities for productive collaboration in research and development. We concluded that the MRB members should issue a policy formulating a joint task force to coordinate the existing institutions’ plans and resources towards an actionable OCS production scaling-up system for the MRB in 2030.

Keywords: Northeast Thailand; MRB2030; BAU; do it yourself; slow but sure; green dream (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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