1.4.3 Programmes for services access

In 2025, Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) organised training and programmes to improve access to basic services for all, with a focus on health and nutrition. Through Bodhivijjalaya College, SWU directly supplied hands-on training in safe vegetable and high-value crop production to members of the local community. By learning to grow clean, chemical-free food for their own households, community members gained everyday access to fresh and nutritious food, improved the quality of their family diet, and took a practical step towards long-term food security.

Growing safe food for better household nutrition

The training was delivered under the Community Academic Service Project: Value Enhancement of Produce through Hydroponic Vegetable and High-Value Crop Cultivation under Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). Building on the college's research and the expertise of its specialist instructors, the project shows community members how to produce safe food under recognised agricultural standards. Its demonstration plots in smart greenhouses, where certified organic and safe crops are grown, serve as an open classroom for the community.

Participants explored hydroponic vegetable systems and melon cultivation in the greenhouses and learned the techniques behind each step, from planting and caring for crops to keeping them free of chemical residues. These are skills that families can apply at home. With a small household plot or a simple hydroponic set, a family can harvest fresh vegetables every day instead of buying them, reduce its exposure to pesticides, and enjoy meals rich in vitamins, minerals and fibre.

In this way, the programme improves access to one of the most essential basic services: adequate and healthy nutrition. Safe vegetables grown in the household support the health of every family member, from children to older adults, while lowering daily food expenses for low-income households.

From the household garden to sustainable livelihoods

The knowledge gained does not stop at the family table. Households that grow more than they need can share their produce with neighbours or develop it into a source of income, and the GAP techniques taught in the programme help them reach markets that value safe produce. The college's vegetable gardens are also open to members of the public for learning and study visits without charge, so that anyone in the community can return to learn and continue developing their skills. Together, these opportunities make safe food production a lasting part of community life and strengthen local food security for all.

Figure 1: Community members learning about hydroponic vegetable cultivation in the college's smart greenhouse

Figure 2: Participants learning about high-value melon cultivation under safe agricultural practices

Figure 3: Participants examining fresh, chemical-free vegetables grown in a hydroponic system

Source: Bodhivijjalaya College, Srinakharinwirot University