At the top is the District, below which is the Province, and then the Tambon. There are just over 7,000 Tambons in Thailand. The 'Tambon' in 'OTOP' is sometimes a single village.
OTOP is a system that was introduced to try help local villagers away from the hard toil of simply growing their own crops, and to allow them to cultivate - and commercialise - old craft skills which were sometimes unique to that village or area. In other cases, skills which were new to the area were introduced, but retaining much of their historical base.

The OTOP system started in Japan, and JETRO (Japan External Trade Organisation) has been instrumental in the furtherance of the scheme in Thailand - promoting and importing many Thai OTOP product into Japan in 2002. This included items such as silk and cotton fabrics, ceramics, wood carved products and basket-ware. Japan further assisted by holding instructional seminars in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, and Hat Yai. Various experts in crafts, business aspects and exporting were available to guide the members of the Thai ATOP scheme. There are ongoing links as Japanese businessmen still visit the Thai OTOP areas to procure suitable goods for the Japanese marketplace.

Some of the products available from village producers in the OTOP scheme.

Baan Suan Warin Batik Cotton Products
Group Huay Kwang's Bags
Clothes Hanger Products
Benjasiri Pottery
Silk Boxes (Land Box Design) Silk-covered boxes
Crystal Models
Miniature Handicrafts
Wimala Carving - wood and palm-leaf carvings
SDEG Pewter
Herb Care - Herbal Cosmetics
Thanapat Supply - Coconut Shell carvings and products
Baan Khangnam - Cotton Products
Anantapol Ploykan Sapphire - Exquisite Black Sapphire products
Nu Lek Benjarong - Beautiful enamelled ceramics
Urai Benjarong - Beautiful enamelled ceramics
Nammon Cotton Products
Coconut Husk Pictures
Saa Luang (Thailand) - Beautiful hand made papers
Leela Scented Candles
Sampatuan Celadon Products - fine earthenware
Chada Brand - Sweet preserved Radish
Siwalee - Recordable Voices Dolls
Ampawa Thai House Models
Leather Sculpture Products
Wannavimol Benjarong - stunning ceramics
Ratchathewi Thai Boats - Model boats and old ships
Juthamas - Lacquer Products
Buran Benjarong - Fine Ceramics
Siam Brass Products
Resin Handicrafts
Mango Wood & Bamboo Products
Tonfai Household Cotton Products
Matika Cotton & Flowers Products
Photharam Toys - Soft cuddly toys
Anuroj Hand-Painted Batik - Hand printed silks

The OTOP scheme in Thailand has been responsible for rejuvenating areas that were once struggling to do little more than feed themselves.