Bangkok − Today, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presented FAO awards to five Asian farmers from Fiji, India, Indonesia, Mongolia and Thailand.

Thamnond Sae Li
A model farmer in organic fertilizers from the Kingdom of Thailand

Thailand is a nation of farmers, but life is not easy for farmers in Thailand. Thamnon Sae Li, a farmer from Chonburi province on Thailand’s eastern seaboard, knows something about that.

When he finished his military service in the late 1980s, Thamnon rented some land and grew cassava and sugarcane. Thamnon worked the land as hard as he could, but he did not earn enough to support his young family. So he also drove a truck. He labored this way for seven years until he saved enough to buy his own 28 rai of land in 1983.

As is common practice, Thamnon bought chemical fertilizers. But before long his yields were decreasing. The land, despite the chemicals, was losing its fertility. Thamnon was in danger of falling into a trap.

During Thailand’s export boom, many farmers turned to mono-cropping, raising one crop such as rice, cassava or sugarcane that was fetching high prices. Mono-cropping, however, depletes the soil. Farmers then borrow money to invest in chemical fertilizers, but they only provide a temporary solution. The soil continues to lose its fertility, yields drop further, profits don’t materialize and farmers find themselves burdened by debt. Debt was something Thamnon believed should be avoided at all cost, but he wasn’t sure what to do.

Then, in 1999, he heard a speech by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in which he talked about his New Theory of Agriculture. His Majesty urged farmers to diversify their crops, and devote part of their land to raising fish and poultry so as to be more self sufficient. If one crop failed, or if some poultry died, they could still survive on the others. Furthermore, the waste from the poultry and other materials could be used for organic fertilizer.

“His Majesty’s ideas were good, but as His Majesty said, it requires hard work and perseverance. I was willing to work hard and try,’’ Thamnon said.

Thamnon diversified his farm. Then, with advice from government officers, he mixed his first batch of organic fertilizer with waste from his chickens, fish and some cows.

His harvests began to increase. He continued experimenting with organic fertilizers, adding plants such as sadao to the mix. Natural substances in these plants repel insects, removing any need to invest in chemical pesticides – another source of potential debt, and a health risk.

Now, aside from cassava, he grows morning glories, cucumbers, baby corn, pomelo, jackfruit, coconuts and others, aside from raising chickens and fish. When his neighbors saw his harvests, they asked how he had done it. He not only taught them how, he formed an organic fertilizer association to produce more fertilizer and spread the gospel of organic farming. Now his farm serves as a learning center for others, and farmers from far away provinces come to see how to achieve the same kind of success.

“I want to see all farmers using this method so that all farmers can be free of debt be self sufficient, and provide good lives for their families and children. Yes, it’s hard work, but the rewards are greater,’’ Thamnon says. “I want to thank the government officers from the Land Development Department for their help, but most of all, I want to thank His Majesty the King for his royal advice which enabled me and my family to have a better life through the sufficiency theory.’’


More information at:
http://www.fao.org/getinvolved/worldfoodday/en/