Schools for both rice IPM and vegetable IPM. These activities were carried out in collaboration with both the Department of Agricultural Extension (DoAE) in the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Department of Non Formal Education (DNFE) in the Ministry of Education. WEA staff also acted as resource persons in planning meetings and training workshops organised by DoAE and DNFE.

Both Departments have now embarked on season-long courses to train IPM trainers with the aim of expanding FFS in both rice and vegetables. WEA continues to be closely involved in the activities of DNFE which is introducing IPM into vocational training centres around the country. Meanwhile, the IPM activities of DOAE have been granted the status of a "special project" supported by His Royal Highness, King Bumipol, and - in June 1999 - the Department established a new "Institute for Bio-Agriculture and Farmer Field Schools".

Contact Marut Jatiket, the Director of Thai Education (formerly WEA),  at weasia@mozart.inet.co.th

RECENT FAO DEVELOPMENTS

In February of this year the European Union signed an agreement to fund a  Cotton IPM project covering six countries in Asia, namely Bangladesh, China, India, Pakistan and Philippines, and Vietnam. The 5-year project, with a budget of US$ 13.7 million, will be managed by FAO. A Team Leader is currently being recruited. The project office will be in Bangkok.

The Embassy of the Netherlands in Beijing also signed a funding agreement with FAO in April. As part of a decentralised system for development cooperation which has recently been adopted by the Netherlands Government,  the Embassy will provide US$ 2 million for IPM activities in China. Training of Trainers Courses and Farmer Field Schools will be carried out  in five Provinces,  managed by the FAO Programme for Community IPM.

During the last 6 months there have been some changes in staff of the FAO Programme for Community IPM in Asia. In January, Pat Matteson arrived in Hanoi as the new Country IPM Officer for Vietnam; she can be contacted at ipm.hanoi@fpt.vn. In May, Henk Van den Berg became responsible for the position of IPM Officer for South Asia, based in Kandy, Sri Lanka. He can be contacted at hvdberg@SLTnet.lk

In March, the first meeting of the Governing Group of the Global IPM Facility took place in Rome. The meeting reviewed the progress on the Facility during 1998, which had been supporting activities in 20 countries, mostly in Africa and the Near East. Representatives from the Asia region presented their experience at the meeting. For more information about the Global Facility send a message to: global-IPM@fao.org

In June and July, an evaluation of the FAO Incountry Programme for IPM in vegetables was being carried out. The purpose of the  evaluation, which involves both FAO experts and representatives of the donors, is to assess the achievements of the project to date, and make recommendations for the future. More information about the Vegetable IPM Programme is available from faoipm@IBM.net