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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.
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.