Benguet State University (BSU), through its International Relations Office (IRO), hosted a meeting and seminar with Maharasarakham University (MSU) of Thailand on March 28, 2026, held at the IRO function hall in the morning and at the Everlasting Hall of the Research and Extension Building in the afternoon.
The meeting featured Dr. Orawan Srisompun, Head of International Affairs under the Division of Agriculture of Maharasarakham University, accompanied by Ms. Tissanamadee Srisompun. They were joined by Dr. Doreen Allasiw, IRO Deputy Director; Dr. Jhordan Cuilan, International Language Center (ILC) Director; Dr. Pelin Belino, College of Home Economics and Technology (CHET) Advanced Studies (ADS) Coordinator; Maāam Jacqueline Gawisan, CHET IRO Coordinator; Sir Jake Galian, CA IRO Coordinator. Also in attendance were Maāam Dafhney Joy Ligligan and Maāam Judylyn Obal, who will be undertaking their internships at the Faculty of Public Health and the Faculty of Technology at MSU, respectively.
During the meeting, Dr. Srisompun introduced Mahasarakham Universityās institutional profile and its academic programs. In turn, Dr. Allasiw and Dr. Cuilan introduced Benguet State Universityās profile, including the programs offered by the ILC. Both parties agreed on the development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
In the afternoon, a seminar hosted by the Office of Extension Services entitled āFarmer Organizations and Market Integration: The Case of Rice and Vegetable Supply Chains in Thailandā took place online and onsite at the Research and Extension Office’s everlasting hall, with the participation of graduate and undergraduate students, educators, researchers, and members of farmers’ groups.
Dr. Srisompun discussed her field of expertise in agriculture, providing valuable insights into rural agricultural practices, challenges in both conventional and modern supply chains, key constraints faced by individual farmers, the various types of farmer organizations in Thailand, and the benefits of market integration mechanisms. She also highlighted case studies of rice production in Thailand, including āPunboon Organic,ā a community-based organic rice enterprise that promotes sustainable agriculture and value-added rice products, and āBa Nong Hin,ā a village-level rice farming community, which illustrates grassroots agricultural development. These initiatives emerged from the efforts of the national government to encourage smallholder farmers to shift from conventional farming to organic farming practices and promote sustainable agriculture.
Moreover, she also introduced the āKhao Im Solution,ā an end-to-end, community-based approach that is applied in rice farming. This emphasizes food security, sustainable production, and value chain development. This model is often illustrated by case studies like the Punboon Organic and Ban Nong Hin, which demonstrate the integration of sustainability and market-oriented strategies in rice production.
Following the discussion, an open forum was held, allowing the participants to seek clarifications on the topics presented and engage in further discourses about the point raised.
During her visit, Dr. Srisompun toured the Cordillera Regional Apiculture Center (CRAC), guided by Mr. Lovenel Cagadoc, Beekeeping Volunteer, and Mr. Tristan Apiles, Farm Technician, where she was introduced to the various beekeeping and farming management techniques, honeybee by-products, and the different pollen alternatives. She also visited the Strawberry Farms, facilitated by Mr. Leonard D. Licudan, Project Technical Assistant at the Agri-based Technology Business Incubator/ Innovation Center (ATBI/IC), where she learned about the different strawberry varieties, planting methods, and sustainable cultivation practices in growing strawberries.//J. Victorino and R. Batalier, BAEL Interns
