Visiting progressive farmers and children’s learning centre on sustainable agriculture in Thailand

The third day of SATNET intraregional visit for smallholder value chain actors in Thailand included visits to farms of two progressive farmers in Nakhonpathom province. The first farmer is cultivating vegetables using sustainable practices and aims to achieve organic certification soon. The participants learned about vegetable cultivation, production of liquid bio-fertilizer, vermicomposting, preparation and application of Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt) and Neem-based products as biopesticides, as well as innovative irrigation methods. The visitors benefited from detailed explanation specific to various processes. They also visited a local farmer community learning centre, which is actively promoting sustainable agriculture.

The second visiting site – Sufficiency Economy for Life School – is a learning centre for children from underprivileged background and the neighbouring farming community to become more aware about sustainable agriculture. The centre is developing and disseminating innovative practices that are simple and low cost, while at the same time sustainability- and productivity-enhancing. Examples include vegetable production and sprouting, grafting, insect traps, zero energy cold storage, vermicomposting, frog rearing, and liquid bio-fertilizer production. The site is also generating biogas and half of its electricity requirements are met through solar power. The participants observed the techniques and practices with enthusiasm and learned about how they are packaged to better appeal to students and youth.