• Thai Rice Foundation under Royal Patronage
• Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA)
• Bank of Agriculture and Agriculture Cooperatives (BAAC) 

• The Asia Rice Foundation
• Rice Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives
• Vocational Education Commission, Ministry of Education
• ASEAN Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

1. Background
   
   More than 90% of the world’s rice is grown and consumed in Asia, but production is not enough to meet the needs of an ever-increasing population. Thus, the issue of ‘food security’ is as relevant today as it was in the 60’s. The issue has re-emerged strongly with the phenomenal increase in the rice price in early 2008, a more or less unexpected event that has caused great concerns and created political instabilities in many countries, both in Asia and elsewhere.
   
   One of the key problems facing the major rice-growing countries today is the sustainability of the rice-farming professions. In most of these countries, a commonly raised question is whether in the future there will be enough farmers to grow rice to feed the world. Studies have shown a decline in both the rice acreage and the number of farmers, with a clear trend that majority of the children of the present farmers, under the present rice farming systems, have no intention to continue rice farming. In fact, the majority of present rice farmers, both in Asia and elsewhere, have no desire to see their children take up rice farming, as they believe that this type of work is hard with no hope of lifting their lives out of poverty and that they fear their children will remain poor too, if they continue in rice farming. 
   
   Thus, unless the current farm youths can see that they can depend on rice farming for their survival and believe that there is indeed a brighter future in rice farming, and unless concerned rice-farming support organizations can join hands in ensuring that avenues for learning by and for persuasion of rice farm youths are open and sustained, it would be likely that future Asian rice production will not be enough to secure adequate rice supplies to feed the growing world population. 
2. Goal 
   
   The Thai Rice Foundation under Royal Patronage, the Asia and Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA), and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), together with its partners -- the Asia Rice Foundation, and other partner organizations in Thailand, have set the goal of ensuring rice food security by developing a new generation of aspiring, inspired and progressive rice farm youths, hereinafter referred to as Gen-A rice farm managers, to help ensure a rice-rich Asia and a rice food-secured world.  
3. Objectives
   
   To implement a program of creating an avenue for learning by Gen-A rice farm managers, the above partners shall organize the FIRST ASEAN RICE YOUTH CAMP, 2010, with the following key objectives:
   
   - To bring together Gen-A rice farm managers from ASEAN PLUS-3 countries for cross-cultural exchange and knowledge sharing on rice farming management;
   - To expose Gen-A rice farm managers to modern rice farming technologies and processes, with Thailand providing the rich background landscape; and
   - To provide observation-study visits on the rice value-chain and linkages from rice production, to processing and warehousing, to promoting value-added products of rice, to domestic marketing, and finally to exporting.
   
   It is expected that as an offshoot of the First ASEAN Rice Youth Camp, 2010, the trained Gen-A rice farm managers shall continue the sharing and learning processes through networking. It is also expected that rice-farming support organizations shall build support structure to enhance the learning and sharing processes and structures among Gen-A rice farm managers.
   
4. Venue and Dates of the First ASEAN Rice Youth Camp, 2010
   
   The First ASEAN Rice Youth Camp, 2010 shall be held in Thailand: Bangkok, Pathum Thani province, and several outlying provinces, from Monday 22 March (expected arrival date) to Wednesday 30 March (expected departure date), 2010. The campsite and home-stay lodging shall be held at the Pathum Thani Rice Research Center, Thailand Department of Rice.
   
5. Participants
   
   Participants, numbering about thirty (30), shall be sons and daughters, aged 16- 20, of current progressive farmers from ASEAN plus-3 countries. Participants are expected to be currently studying and have some elementary knowledge of English (to allow participants the opportunity to communicate and learn well, as English will be the medium of instruction). The organizers expect some 2-3 participants per country from ‘ASEAN plus-3’ (total of 13) countries. 
   
6. Coverage of Participants
   
   The support organizations in each country shall cover their respective participants’ expenditures on international travel, medical and travel insurance, other travel-related expenses, and pocket money. 
   
   The organizers shall cover the local cost in Thailand (board and lodging, ground transportation, training, laboratory and administrative expenses, and local domestic insurance). 
    
7. Provisional Schedule (22-30 March 2010) 
   
   March 22, Monday
   
   Participants arrive at the Suvarnabhumi Airport, and travel to the Camp Site at the Pathum Thani Rice Research Center. Register, check in, and rest.
   
   March 23, Tuesday
   
   08:30-10:00 H   Orientation and Pre-test 
   10:00-12:00 H   Opening Ceremony          
   12:00-13:00 H   Lunch with VIPs and Guests 
   13:30-15:00 H   Country Reports
   15:30-17:00 H   Overview of ‘Rice and Asia’                     
   17:30-18:30 H   Review of the Day’s events
   18:30-19:30 H   Dinner 
   19:30-21:00 H  ‘Getting to Know You’ program
   
   Note. Country Report is to be presented by one representative per country, it will present the rice status, the problems about rice, and the advancement in rice -- in the respective country.
   
   March 24, Wednesday
   
   08:30-10:30 H    Rice Varietal Improvement Program in Thailand 
   10:30-12:00 H    Visit to Germplasm Bank, Department of Agriculture
   12:00-10:00 H    Lunch
   13:30-15:00 H    Rice Production Technologies - Part I (Practice in fields)
                                 - Land preparation
   15:00-17:00 H    Rice Production Technologies - Part I (Fields and Laboratories)
                                 - Planting methods
                                 - Fertilization
   17:30-18:30 H    Review of the Day’s events
   18:30-21:00 H    Multi-media/video presentation by participants 
   
   Note. Multi-media/Video presentation will be made by individual participants who wish to do so. It will focus on certain aspects of agriculture in his/her country, with emphasis on rice.
   
   March 25, Thursday 
   
   08:00-09:00 H    Travel to Nakorn Pathom Province 
   09:00-12:00 H    Visit Cho Heng Rice Vermicelli Co., Ltd.
   12:00-13:00 H    Travel to Pathum Thani Province
   13:00-15:00 H    Visit Pathum Rice Mill and Granary Public Co., Ltd.
   15:00-17:00 H    Visit Bang Koo Wat Wisahakij Farm Community
   17:00-18:00 H    Return to the Camp Site
   18:30-19:30 H    Dinner
   19:30-21:00 H    Review of the Day’s events
   
   March 26, Friday 
   
   08:00-09:00 H    Travel to the Kasetsart University Kampaengsaen Campus
   09:00-11:00 H    Visit the Rice Science Center & Rice Gene Discovery
   11:00-12:00 H    Campus Tour
   12:00-13:00 H    Lunch at the Agricultural Extension and Training Center
   13:00-14:30 H    Return to the Camp Site
   15:00-16:30 H    Rice Marketing and Trading
   16:30-18:30 H    Review of the Day’s events
   18:30-19:30 H    Dinner
   19:30-21:00 H    Information sharing on similarities and differences among countries
   
   March 27, Saturday 
   
   08:30-10:30 H    Production Technologies Part II (Laboratories and Fields)
                                 - Insect Pests and friends
                                 - Diseases
                                 - Weeds
   10:30-12:00 H    Production Technologies Part II (Lecture and laboratories)
                                 - Harvesting
                                 - Post-harvest and Milling Quality
   13:30-15:00 H    Cooking and Eating Quality (Lecture and laboratories)
   15:00-17:00 H    Value-Added Products of Rice (Illustration and Laboratories)
   17:30-18:30 H    Review of the Day’s events
   18:30-19:30 H    Dinner
   19:30-21:00 H    Post-tests and evaluation/suggestions
   
   March 28, Sunday 
   
   08:00-09:00 H    Travel to Suphanburi
   09:00-11:00 H    Visit the Aquarium or other selected site
   11:00-13:30 H    Visit to the Buffalo Camp and lunch
   13:30-14:30 H    Travel to the Science Museum
   14:30-16:30 H    Visit the Science Museum
   16:30-17:30 H    Return to the Camp Site
   18:30-19:30 H    Dinner
   19:30-21:00 H    Development of Future Work Plans
   
   March 29, Monday 
   
   07:30-15:00 H    Trip to the hotel in Bangkok, sight-seeing and shopping along the way
   15:00-18:00 H    Check-in at hotel, and preparing for the performances to be presented at the International Cultural Night Program
   18:30-19:45 H    Dinner and Cultural Performances by Rice Camp participants
   19:45-21:00 H    Closing Ceremony
   
   March 30, Tuesday 
   
   Travel to Suvarnabhumi Airport, depart for home countries
8. Administrative Arrangements
   
   a. Mode of Participation
   
   To ensure appropriate arrangements, participating organizations are requested to undertake the selection of 2-3 Gen-A participants per country, following the criteria set for Gen-A participants as well as rice-farming support organizations. 
   
   Participating organizations shall complete the required documents for each participant (i.e., registration form, the school permit, the parents’ permit, note of coverage by participating organizations, and waiver and similar other documents) and submit to the following contact person no later than 22 January 2010. (Note: Registration Form and other required forms are enclosed.):
   
   Mrs. Sabaithong Aksharanugraha or Ms. Chanitsara Thaveeprayoon
   Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC)
   469 Nakhonsawan road, Dusit, Bangkok 10300
   Thailand
   Tel. 02-280-0180 ext 2842-2848, 2831-2839
   Fax: 02-282-8332, 02-280-2038
   E-mail: sabaitongbaac@hotmail.com and chanitsarabaac@hotmail.com 
   
   b. Airport Reception and Transportation 
   
   Participants shall be met at the Suvarnabhumi International airport, provided flight schedules are sent well in advance and no later than 19 February 2010. Ground transportation from the airport to the campsite shall be provided by the organizers. 
   
   c. Visa Arrangements
   
   There is no need for visas to Thailand from participants from ASEAN plus-3 countries, for the duration of the camp.
   
   d. Sharing of Materials
   
   The ASEAN Rice Youth Camp 2010 is an occasion for sharing experiences about the participants’ country and rice farming landscape. Participants are requested to bring along videos, power points and other multi-media materials for dissemination and sharing. Focus should be on the typical rice farming landscape and systems in each country, as well as its rice cultural heritage.
   
   e. Institutional Mementoes and Souvenir Items 
   
   The ASEAN Rice Youth Camp 2010 is an occasion for camaraderie. Participants may bring inexpensive, easy to pack, but meaningful mementoes and souvenir items from their respective countries. 
   
   f. Attire and Weather
   
   March is a relatively warm month in Thailand. Light clothes, and comfortable walking shoes are appropriate for observation visits. 
   
   g. Farewell Party/International Night
   
   During this occasion of the international night on March 29, 2010, participants are requested to wear their national attire to enliven the occasion. Rendition of national songs and dances would be appreciated.
   
9. Contact Person       
   For CAMP technical and administrative arrangements, please contact:
   Dr. Kwanchai A. Gomez
   The Thai Rice Foundation under Royal Patronage
   317-320 Research and Development Building
   Kasetsart University, Ladyao, Jatujak Bangkok 10900, Thailand
   Tel. 66-02-9427620, Fax. 66-02-9427621
   E-mail: ricefoundthailand@thairice.org and kwanchaig@yahoo.com  
10. About the Organizers
    
    - Thai Rice Foundation under Royal Patronage
    
    The Thai Rice Foundation under Royal Patronage is a nonprofit organization that works to preserve the rich rice cultural heritage of the country and to make the rice sectors, particularly the farming sector, more productive and profitable and thus attractive to future generations. It was established in June 2000 in Bangkok, Thailand. Its programs aim to educate and raise public awareness on the importance of rice; promote research on all aspects of rice production, processing, packaging and marketing, trading and consumption; preserve Thailand’s rice cultural heritage and encourage its appreciation; and promote policies that provide a favorable environment for all rice sectors.
    
    - Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association
    
    The Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA), the acknowledged leader in rural and agricultural finance, was established in 1977 with Bangkok, Thailand at the UN-FAO premises as its headquarters. APRACA is composed of 58 (as of August 2009) rural finance and finance-related institutions (central banks, agricultural and rural development banks, commercial banks, federations, institutes and government agencies) in 23 countries in Asia and the Pacific region. It, has continuously promoted the development of strong rural and agricultural financial systems, has worked toward strengthening rural financial outreach structures and has provided catalytic forums for deepening rural finance policy reforms. 
    
    - Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives
    
    The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC)’s main objectives are to promote the improved social and economic well-being of Thailand’s farming population through the provision of financial assistance in the form of loans for agricultural production, investment and marketing purposes. BAAC is recognized as a funding source for comprehensive development, capable of enabling farmers and strengthening farm communities in the rural areas of Thailand.

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