Rayong: The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) is advancing its "PARARAKSA" brand, a health-focused rubber product line, through strategic rebranding and repackaging into Glam Agro products. This initiative seeks to transform farmers into "new-age entrepreneurs," improving their competitiveness, generating employment, and expanding into high-value agricultural products.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Paisarn Hongthong, Deputy Managing Director of BAAC, visited Smile Rubber Co., Ltd., a key BAAC customer in Rayong Province, as part of the "Upgrading Agricultural Products to Glam Agro" project. This project supports rubber farmers impacted by fluctuating rubber prices, leading to the formation of the Ban Noen Sawang Community Enterprise Group. This group purchases natural rubber from local farmers, processing it into products under the Kaika brand, such as latex pillows, mattresses, and meditation cushions. These products are recognized for their safety, ergonomic support, allergen-free nature, and environmental friendliness, gaining market acceptance. BAAC has provided financial backing, management, business networking, and innovation and marketing knowledge enhancement. The initiative focuses on developing modern, appealing packaging and product images for the premium market and is part of the "New Gen Hug Hometown" project, aiming to position the company as a leading ag ricultural SME entrepreneur under the "PARARAKSA" brand.
The PARARAKSA brand's latex products, including button mattresses, meditation cushions, and back cushions, have achieved ISO9001:2015 international certification, A-Product Premium standard, and Thai innovation registration, including patents. The brand generates over 6 million baht annually and is distributed in four Asian countries. The company plans to further develop health-oriented latex products incorporating Smart AI technology, such as health sensors for elderly mattresses. Collaboration with BAAC on innovation, marketing, and exports aims to establish PARARAKSA as a globally recognized Thai health brand. Product details and inquiries can be made via Facebook SmileRubber or the Line Official Account @ParaRaksa.
The BAAC is launching the "Glam Agro Product Upgrading Project" to enhance knowledge, marketing, and innovation, transforming farmers into "new-age entrepreneurs" with competitive potential. This project creates jobs and careers within communities, further developing high-value agricultural products that meet modern consumer needs. BAAC is prepared to support customers in three key areas:
1. Value creation: Assisting farmers and community enterprises in developing agricultural products through rebranding, re-packaging, and innovative processing to ensure high-quality, differentiated products meeting modern consumer demands.
2. Business network linkage: Encouraging farmers and entrepreneurs to create marketing opportunities via business matching to expand product sales in high purchasing power markets, both domestically and internationally, while creating trade alliances with farmer institutions, cooperatives, and the private sector.
3. Increasing community capacity: Encouraging young smart farmers to contribute to developing high-value agricultural products, creating jobs, generating income, and sustainably expanding the grassroots economy. For fiscal year 2025, BAAC promotes the creation of over 12 Glam Agro brands nationwide, covering diverse products such as processed fruits, herbs, health drinks, processed rice, and rubber products.
Over 800 farmer and community enterprise households have participated in the project, increasing their agricultural product value by an average of two to three times. In addition to boosting farmers' incomes, the project serves as a key mechanism for strengthening the grassroots economy and advancing the country towards "premium agriculture" capable of competing globally.