TISTR warmly welcomed a delegation from the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) and Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU), Republic of the Philippines, for the Benchmarking Activity on Best Practices for Tamarind Post-harvest, Pest, and Disease Management in Thailand, held on 16-19 December 2025.
The activity aimed to promote the exchange of knowledge, technologies, and best practices for the full value-chain development of tamarind—from cultivation and pest management to post-harvest handling, processing, and market readiness.
The delegation was welcomed by Dr. Pongsathon Phapugrangkul, Deputy Governor of R&D for Bio-industries, together with Dr. Kusol Iamsub, Senior Research Officer; Dr. Soravit Jamjumroon, Research Officer; Dr. Sawithree Pramoj Na Ayudhya, Research Officer, Expert Centre of Innovative Agriculture (InnoAg); and the International Relations team.
On this occasion, Dr. Pongsathon delivered a welcome remark, followed by research presentations from both sides. The DOST-PCAARRD and PSAU delegation shared their country’s tamarind research, while TISTR presented its expertise in key areas—sweet tamarind post-harvest technologies, plant protection, pest and disease management, and the use of biological control agents. The visit also included a laboratory tour showcasing relevant post-harvest equipment and tools.
On 17 December 2025, the delegation visited the Pak Chong Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, where they were welcomed by Ms. Pimnipa Pengchang, Head of the Research Station, and Ms. Darunee Thaworncharoen, Agricultural Research Officer (Professional Level). The program featured discussions on potential collaboration, technical briefings on plant breeding, propagation, nutrient management, irrigation systems and water-use efficiency, and a field tour of tamarind and guava plots with diverse varieties.
On 18 December 2025, at the Lam Takhong Research Station, the delegation was welcomed by Dr. Maitree Munyanont, Research Officer, who presented the station’s mission and shared insights on the cultivation and processing of giant sour tamarind—focusing on shelf-life extension, value addition, and technology transfer to entrepreneurs. Activities also included demonstrations of pickled tamarind processing and tamarind propagation, as well as visits to a sour tamarind plot and the Tropical Insect Sanctuary.
On 19 December 2025, the delegation visited Chanika Farm in Phetchabun, where they learned about cold storage and shelf-life extension, agro-industrial value-added processing, product quality and safety control, and systematic supply chain management from farm to market, presented by Mr. Boonlert Phutcharoen, the farm owner and entrepreneur.
This benchmarking activity is part of the collaborative activities under the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between TISTR and DOST-PCAARRD, marking another significant step forward in strengthening science, technology, and innovation (STI) cooperation in agriculture between Thailand and the Philippines.
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