The Phayao Fish Frog Festival 2025, held under the theme "From Farm to Table," was held on April 26th and 27th, 2025 at Lake's Go Park in Phayao Province. The festival was organized as part of the "Upgrading the Supply Chain of the Phayao Freshwater Fish Cluster" project, with the goal of boosting the economic value along the Northern Economic Corridor. This was achieved by promoting awareness about two key economic species in the region - tilapia and frogs - and driving the local economy through creative and innovative activities.
The opening ceremony was honored by Dr. Warach Madhyamapurush, Deputy Director of the Innovation and Technology Transfer Institute and Project Leader, who delivered the opening report. Professor Dr. Samur Thanoi, Vice President for Research and Innovation at the University of Phayao, officially opened the festival and participated in the symbolic handover of a "Tilapia Truck," promoting sustainable local entrepreneurship. Professor Dr. Samur stated that this festival reflected the success of Phayao's efforts in developing frog and tilapia farming, from breeding and cost management to water and feed. These efforts enable rapid growth, high quality meat, and widespread agricultural expansion. The initiative has also led to product innovations such as tilapia cheese sticks, deep fried pickled fish rolls (Jo Pla Som), and tilapia gyoza. These not only add value to local produce but also open up new business opportunities for communities, supported by strong collaboration between the University of Phayao, Provincial Administrative Organization, and the community, bringing pride and sustainable income to the people of Phayao.
Assistant Professor Dr. Juthatip Chalermphol, Assistant to the President of Chiang Mai University and Director of the Coordination Unit of Program Management Unit on Area Based Development (PMU A), also spoke at the event. She highlighted the support provided to develop the Phayao freshwater fish cluster, emphasizing the sustainable use of local resources to strengthen communities through over 27 projects nationwide. A notable example is the Phayao Tilapia Development Project, which utilizes local resources to generate income and improve community well-being. A key aspect of this project is the creation of accessible, income-generating solutions such as the "Tilapia Truck," which serves as a successful business model for communities. In the future, PMU A plans to help scale these products to industrial levels and support further research to empower and sustainably develop local communities.
The festival showcased a diverse array of activities, such as Art & Craft workshops designed to ignite creativity in children and families, a food stylist competition with exciting prizes, academic corners where researchers shared insights on aquaculture, live music performances, and a local cuisine zone featuring rare regional dishes that highlighted Phayao's distinctive culinary heritage. Additionally, there were numerous recreational activities available for all family members to partake in and enjoy.
In addition, the event served as a platform for sharing knowledge from the Phayao Freshwater Fish Cluster Supply Chain Enhancement Project, with key goals such as baseline data analysis, supply and demand chain development, area-based collaboration mechanisms, technology transfer to farmers and entrepreneurs, and the development of accessible and inclusive business models. These efforts aim to establish Phayao as a regional hub for premium quality freshwater fish production in the near future.
Ultimately, Phayao Fish Frog Festival 2025 was more than a fun celebration, it marked a significant step in connecting local ways of life with innovation to sustainably drive Phayao's economy. The event welcomed distinguished guests from multiple organizations including the Program Management Unit on Area Based Development (PMU A), the Vice President for Research and Innovation at the University of Phayao, the Phayao Provincial Administrative Organization, Phayao's Provincial Agriculture, the president of the Phayao Chamber of Commerce, the president of YEC, and deans and vice deans from the University of Phayao.
View more event photos at: Phayao Fish Frog Festival 2025
