CLINIC PILOT PROJECT TO TARGET RUBBISH, WASTE IN COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE

       Dealing with rubbish and waste management in communities will be the next area of environmental concern targeted by the Clinic Technology project of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
       The project was set up in 2004, contributing technology and ideas from Thai researchers in the ministry's agencies and academic institutes.
       "Most needed technology related to agriculture, food and herbal drugs, and we have given them what they needed," said project manager Suwimon Inthasen. "Our staff has worked onsite for the past five years...to improve their quality of life," she said.
       Suwimon expected the latest pilot project, to help people around the country with effective rubbish and waste management problems, to start in some communities in October.
       "The ministry and the project's network academic institutes have useful research findings on rubbish and waste management. We're seeking pilot communities, considering which ideas are practical to implement, and considering the budget for this pilot project," Suwimon said.
       Local administrative organisations will help the clinic initiate proper management systems.
       So far, more than 60,000 people in over 50 provinces nationwide have been educated by 119 clinics in the technology needed to upgrade the quality of their agricultural products and other types of goods.
       They include agriculturists, small and medium enterprise (SMEs) and small and micro community enterprise owners, women's groups producing their own products for sale, and local administrative organisations.
       "Average budget spent on the project is Bt70 million per year. We contributed technology to 5,800 people during 2004, whereas more than 13,000 people have received it this year," she added.
       Patchareeporn Wutitien, a Bangkok SME owner said she had been producing and selling cereal drinks for years. The clinic had helped her upgrade the quality of her drinks and trained her at Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon (RMUTP) - on cleanliness to meet sanitation standards.
       "I'm more confident to explain medicinal properties to customers after consulting with lecturers here. The clinic also designed my products' package and trained me in marketing strategies. I learned about safe tools and production. As a result, I can now sell more products," Patchareeporn said.
       RMUTP's Assistant Prof Chuta Peeraphatchara, director of the institute of research and development, one of five technology clinics at the university, said they offered training about fabrics, food and handicrafts to people and entrepreneurs.
       "We help them study the criteria for product standards from the Thai Industrial Standards Institute, and encourage them to improve their products' quality to be good enough to pass the criteria. It will help them increase the number of their customers and make it easier for them to extend their market," Chuta said.