1 AIT Asian Institute of Technology

An evaluation of the cashew nut program in Amphoe Pakham, Changwat Buriram, Thailand : lessons to be learned

AuthorGorospe, Marissa M.
Call NumberAIT RSPR no.HS-93-03
Subject(s)Cashew nut--Thailand--Buriram

NoteA Research Study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Engineering and Technology
PublisherAsian Institute of Technology
Series StatementResearch studies project report ; no. HS-93-03
AbstractThis research study aimed to evaluate the cashew nut program initiated by the Ma Bun Krong (MBK) Company. The program has been implemented nationwide covering 34 of the 74 provinces of Thailand. However, the scope of the research was limited to the implementation of the program in Amphoe Pakham, in Changwat Buriram, in the Northeast region of the country. The cashew nut program has 3 objectives, namely; reduce the area planted to cassava, increase forest cover and increase the incomes of the local farmers. The research study covered 2 main points. One involved the review of evaluation tools upon which an evaluation approach was formulated by the author. The evaluation approach was subsequently used in assessing the cashew nut program in Amphoe Pakham. The second point dealt with the results of the evaluation per se of the cashew nut program upon which some lessons in implementation were put forward by the author. The evaluation of the program considered 3 aspects. The first dealt with the determination of the appropriateness of the program in the study area in terms of socioeconomic needs and technical requirements. The second reviewed the performance of the program in terms of costs and returns, whether or not required field maintenance activities were performed and compared the benefits between cashew and cassava. The third looked into the degree of attainment of the program objectives. The impact of the cashew nut program in the study area could be said to be quite insignificant considering that program objectives were not achieved. In terms of productivity, the actual yields have fallen way off the expected figures. And as to the attainment of program objectives, the cultivation of cashew trees have not actually helped reduce the area planted to cassava (correspondingly, forest cover had not been increased) nor increased the incomes of the farmers in the study area. In general, the research study may be used as a reference in the evaluation of similar programs.
Year1993
Corresponding Series Added EntryAsian Institute of Technology. Research studies project report ; no. HS-93-03
TypeResearch Study Project Report (RSPR)
SchoolSchool of Engineering and Technology (SET)
DepartmentOther Field of Studies (No Department)
Academic Program/FoSHuman Settlement (HS)
Chairperson(s)Kammeier, Hans Detlef;
Examination Committee(s)Demaine, Harvey;Wickramanayake, B.W.E.;
Scholarship Donor(s)The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD);
DegreeResearch Studies Project Report (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1993


Usage Metrics
View Detail0
Read PDF0
Download PDF0