Created during the administration of Thansin Shinawatra the One Tambon One Product(OTOP) initiative was designed to involve the rural (poor) people of Thailand sharing in the countries tourist wealth.
To understand this concept let me first briefly explain how local government in Thailand works. It starts at Provincial level (Changwat), District(Amphoe), Tambon(sub-district) and Muban(village). My postal address after the street (soi) and house number is Moo 2 (Muban), Khlong Wan (Tambon), Mueng Prachuap Khiri Khan (Amphoe), Prachuap Khiri Khan (Changwat), Thailand.
Now I actually live in the village of Nong Hin which is part of Muban 2. As an aside it always fascinates me how the postman finds my home since we do not have a soi name yet. So mail addressed to me after my name simply has the house number, followed by the other stuff!
Anyway, I am no expert on Thai administrative units but I know a man who his and there is loads of information at Changwat Amphoe Tambon.
Lets get back to OTOP. The aim of the project as I said above was to help the rural poor by getting them organised at Tambon level. Historically it would seem the idea might well have been adapted from a similar project run in Japan-one village one product. The basic concept is that each area chooses a locally produced product to promote, some examples include jewellery, cotton and silk garments along with pottery and food.
Local and International promotion is handled through a company called Info Systech Co.Ltd and also through trade fairs within Thailand. Besides promoting the products the web site for OTOP was also designed to include information on every Tambon in Thailand.
"To construct a comprehensive database system which accommodates necessary information from every Tambon in Thailand. The web site will be a resource centre for public use. The design covers Tambon general data, transportation system, official people in charge of administration, data on community and professional group including their products, problems, etc., highlights on One Tambon One Product (OTOP) Project. Additional information on tourism, hotels and restaurants are prepared for Tambon level and above."
Since my local Tambon is Khlong Wan I thought I would look on the OTOP site to see what our product is. Well I was a bit disappointed since I could find no reference on the site although I believe locally a rather nice sponge cake that is boxed in a package showing a Dolphin is in fact part of the OTOP promotion. There are several references to my local area of Prachuap Khiri Khan but the nearest listed for me is Ao Noi Tambon or Koh Lak Tambon.
I particularly like the concept of One Tambon One Product and would urge you to check it out next time you are in Thailand since the organisation has shops throughout the country.
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2 comments:
OTOP is a good one for you to promote, Mike. From what I have seen around here, some tambon don't produce enough of whatever to really make a go of it. Tesco Lotus and Big C both have shelf displays that are just OTOP (foodstuffs). I like the honey, though it isn't as cheap as the stuff from Laos -- but then it hasn't been watered down.
You can find the OTOP products for your Tambon here, and unlike the original concept and the name it has more than one product for most Tambon now. But you were right about the cake, and that's still the first product on that page.
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