The project location is situated in a plain area of northeast Thailand where community members earn their living mainly by growing rice , horticulture and small-scale fishing. Energy supply is from grid, canned natural gas and firewood from marginal area of paddy fields and garden. So far, there had been no initiative to launch reforestation for energy nor other type of energy conservation project. Natural resources have simply been consumed on a day-to-day basis. Average Per Capita income is Baht: 10,000:/year.

Trained on agricultural product processing and traditional therapy as an off-season occupation and supported by the Udornthani Provincial Community Fund, the group built a premises and provides services ,on the trained subjects, to public. In the service process, canned natural gas and charcoal have been being used resulting in green house gas emission and subsequent global warming.

Learning from the experience of a back project THA-00-G01 ?Solar Water Pumping? about 15 km.away, the group initiated the application of solar energy and other type renewable energy to reduce the consumption of conventional energy as well as fire-woods.

Project goals or objectives (including GEF problem-area addressed by projects):

1.To reduce consumption of energy from grid and natural gas in drug processing
2.To process agro-product to meet community demand
3.To disseminate knowledge on renewable energy

Activities to be carried out under project:

1. Building/fabricating the following facilities
-biomass-burning stoves
-solar water heaters
-solar dryers/heaters for agro-product processing
2.Building capacity of target group through training and seminars on renewable energy technology
3.Demonstrating renewable energy uses for customers and wider public

Project participants and/or beneficiaries:

1.The target population is the primary beneficiary
2.Centre for Agricultural Technology Transfer
3.Na-sa-ard Tambol Administration Organization
4.The Department of Agricultural Extension

Anticipated results of project:

1.Reduced expense on natural gas to Baht:600./ month (current expense is Baht: 800/month)
2.Increased income from selling processed product to Baht: 2,000:/month (respective current figure is Baht: 500-600:)
3. Increased number of customers to 80-100/month (respective figure is 50-60)