Agricultural Extension in Thailand marks the 39th Anniversary.
October 21

THE FIRST DIRECTOR -GENERAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND COOPERATIVES.

Professor Dr. Thumnong Singavalavanija

ศาสตราจารย์ ดร.ทำนอง สิงคาลวนิช
อธิบดีกรมส่งเสริมการเกษตรคนแรก
ของประเทศไทย

21 ตุลาคม 2510

This is a short note to remember and pay respect to the man who lined up the farm youth organization in Thailand in 1957.Ajarn Thumnong Singalavanija, the Chief of the Agricultural Extension, Department of Agriculture.

The 4-H Club work, the international youth organization, was applied to practice  in Thai farm families.During the decades of 1960 the 4-H work in Thailand was welknown over the country since it was the local youth club bringing in new concept of farming to the farm families.

The 4-H work was conducted in school and in the farm. The First National 4-H Conference was held at Kasetsart University in 1959. That was the beginning of the new era of the green revolution of the country.

I was a member of the 4-H Club in my village in  Korat. I joined the Second 4-H Conference at Kasetsart University in 1960. I appreciated the extension agents whom taught me on the new way of leadership and training on the farm. I recognized these men: Somnuk Tardee, Anek Sutharojana, Pinit Suwanachot, Boontham Malasri, Chaem Polvichit. I gained my experiences from the above extension agents.

This note may be helpful to someone who work on the 4-H Club around the world. The 4ก Club in Thailand is running on but in some provinces where the extension agents are active. The 4ก Club Committee, the ministerial executive and the departmental administrator should  preview the national 4-H Club work in the past 47 years!

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August 4, 2006

I was interviewed by an exchangee student from the US yesterday. She asked me what the most impression I have in mind to devote my time for the environment conservation awareness.

My answer is, the 4-H Club program in Thailand while I was a kid in the secondary school in Korat. The program was conducting by the Department of Agriculture under Ajarn Thumnong Singalavanija cooperatively with the United States Operations Mission to Thailand. (USOM). The 4-H Club program was first organized in Thailand since 1955. The club in my village was one of the first organized in the country. Mr. Somnuk Tardee (Maejo #14) was the 4-H Extension Agent. I joined the club while I was in the 9th grade at Rajsima School. It was the out of school project (village 4-H Club).

I appreciated the 4-H activities I gained while I was the member for three years. I still recognized the agents who worked on the 4-H during that years.

Mr. Thumnong Singalavanija,
Mr. Prayoon Sawanasujarit,
Mr. Pinit Suwananchote,
Mr. Somnuk Tardee
Mr. Anek Sutharojana'

I believes the 4-H Club work is really useful to the youth development in everywhere. Head, Heart, Hands and Health are most meaningful if you practice the whole activity from your mind and for the community and the world.

S. Chantalay

Last updated: June 25, 2007