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OTOP system in Thailand, has allowed certain villages or areas to develop different skills other than their normal skills associated with the area in which they live - ie farming. It is important for there to be more diversification in productive skills, as basic farming for the family is not a good way to earn a good living any longer. Globalisation is here and here to stay. A Tambon, is an administrative area in Thailand, usually containing approximately 10 or so villages. Tambon being the third local administrative area down the ladder. In cities and large towns, the Tambon is not divided into villages.
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The OTOP system of production or manufacture of new good within certain areas designated areas, bring with it the advantages of collective marketing, and an awareness of the products being made in that area. There are also many OTOP outlets within Thailand which are dedicated to selling only OTOP goods.
A typical OTOP venture, is that that has been taken up by the 'Umbrella Village' - Bo Sang. Most visitors to Thailand will have heard of it, and it is a class example of what can be achieved by adhering to the OTOP system of cooperation in all matters relating to the venture.
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.
