(27 January 2026) Khon Kaen Province Visits Ban Kho Municipality – The Office of Academic Service, Khon Kaen University (KKU), in collaboration with the Khon Kaen Provincial Office of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) and Ban Kho Subdistrict Municipality, launched the “Model Community for Valorising Cassava Rhizomes for Sustainable Development” project alongside a workshop on “Driving the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy Model.” Mr. Yuttana Potiwihok, Vice Governor of Khon Kaen Province, presided over the opening ceremony at the conference room of Ban Kho Subdistrict Municipality, Mueang District, Khon Kaen Province. The event was attended by over 80 participants, including KKU executives, the Office of Academic Service, private sector partners, and local farmers.
Mr. Naret Chomboon, Director of the Khon Kaen Provincial Office of Natural Resources and Environment, reported on the project’s objectives. He explained that due to severe air pollution and PM2.5 issues in Khon Kaen Province—largely caused by open burning of agricultural waste—this project serves as a proactive strategy to alter agricultural practices. It focuses on transforming waste materials such as cassava rhizomes, sugarcane leaves, and rice stubble into value-added products like “smokeless briquettes” and odour-absorbing charcoal, effectively implementing a “Waste to Value” management approach.
Professor Thidarut Boonmars, D.V.M., Ph.D., Vice President for Enterprise and Societal Sustainability at Khon Kaen University, addressed the university’s role. She emphasised that KKU is dedicated to transferring knowledge, research, and innovation to the community to foster Sustainable Development. Ban Kho Municipality serves as a model area where the university has continuously implemented integrated initiatives covering public health, career promotion, and agricultural development, aiming to enhance the quality of life and ensure the community’s stable self-reliance.
Mr. Yuttana Potiwihok, Vice Governor of Khon Kaen Province, delivered policies and guidelines for driving the Circular Economy. He highlighted the principle of “doing more with less” and maximising natural resource utilisation to minimise environmental impact. He also rallied farmers to recognise the importance of increasing yield per rai to reduce the need for expanding cultivation areas and burning crop residues. This initiative, he noted, acts as a vital cog in driving society forward and creating a better environment for future generations.
Mr. Jakkapong Phetsaen, Mayor of Ban Kho Subdistrict Municipality, added that the subdistrict contains over 7,000 rai of cassava plantations. Therefore, this project aligns perfectly with the local context and will create new economic opportunities for the area’s 17,000 residents.
The event featured a special lecture on the hotspot situation and its impact on air quality, followed by practical workshops on processing agricultural waste. Expert speakers from Khon Kaen University and the private sector network demonstrated the technology for producing smokeless briquettes and odour-absorbing charcoal, enabling farmers to apply these skills for vocational purposes and supplementary income generation.
