Story and Photos: Kaset Kao Klai Pai Duay Kan News Team
Source: www.kasetkaoklai.com
After travelling extensively throughout 2018, our “Kaset Kao Klai” team guided by the spirit of “Moving Forward Together” discovered that there were still many opportunities to make our next journey even more complete and meaningful.
We have witnessed the determination of many farmers who are striving to build more sustainable agricultural careers. Although various organisations have stepped in to provide support, the effectiveness and suitability of that assistance may differ from one situation to another. As an agricultural media organisation, we believe one of the most meaningful roles we can play is to connect the farming community with other sectors of Thai society and help people recognise that agriculture lies at the heart of Thailand. Whatever your profession—whether you are a doctor, nurse, engineer, architect, or work in another field—we invite you to take a moment to consider how each of us can contribute to the development and long-term sustainability of Thailand’s agricultural sector.
We must never forget that agriculture has long been the livelihood of our Thai ancestors and the foundation upon which generations of our families have built their lives. It will also continue to shape the future of generations to come. “If agriculture prospers, Thailand prospers.” With the utmost respect, we draw inspiration from the royal guidance of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great, King Rama IX, whose vision highlighted the vital role of agriculture in Thailand’s sustainable development.
Meeting an Agriculture-Minded District Chief: Mr. Nakrop Na Thalang (fourth from left)
We were encouraged to see several political parties present policies aimed at developing Thailand’s agricultural sector during the recent election. One party even proposed making agricultural research a national priority—an initiative we believe deserves recognition and support. The government has emphasised the use of innovation and technology to drive national development under the Thailand 4.0 policy. Although this concept may seem complex or beyond the reach of some farmers, we see it in a much simpler way: creating greater value from what already exists. There is no need to begin with something distant or overly ambitious. Start by looking at what you already have—on your farm, in your orchard, or in your fishpond—and consider how it could be improved, developed, or transformed into a higher-value product.
Mr. Paisit Ketsathit, Provincial Agriculture Officer, delivering the opening address.
Village Headman Damrongsak explaining off-season durian cultivation.
"Returning to the story of Kaset Kao Klai before we go too far afield, one of our key initiatives is the “Farm-Based Classroom”, also known as the “Farmer Training Programme”. The initiative is organised by Kaset Academy, our small educational unit established with a clear commitment to creating meaningful learning opportunities for Thai farmers—an Academy for Farmers. A Farm-Based Classroom brings learning directly into real agricultural plots, orchards, and farms, allowing participants to gain practical knowledge from experienced farmers and genuine experts. In other words, it is about learning proven practices from real people in real working environments. We believe that many farmers and agricultural sites across Thailand have the potential to become Farm-Based Classrooms or farmer learning centres. Such a school does not require an elaborate building, a large sign, or significant investment. What matters most is the practical knowledge held by the farmer, the ability to communicate that knowledge effectively, and the means to connect with the intended audience—particularly through digital and online platforms. No single person needs to possess every area of expertise. The essential foundation is a willingness to collaborate with farmers, specialists, organisations, and all relevant sectors to create valuable learning opportunities together."
Village Headman Damrongsak sharing his knowledge with complete dedication.
"For example, for the “Farm-Based Classroom” held in a durian orchard in Chumphon Province, as mentioned in the title, we set the learning topic as “Off-Season Durian Production with a Southern Expert” (https://bit.ly/2UzsVPU). The orchard owner we visited was Village Headman Damrongsak Sinsak. He told us that several groups would be attending the session that day. We replied, “That’s great,” as it would create a lively atmosphere and fulfil the purpose of the event. On the day, participants included the Chumphon Fruit Growers Association, led by its president, Mr. Noen Suek Khan Ngoen; the Thai Durian Institute, whose delegation included several members—their names will be added later when available; and MeZ, pronounced “Mee-Zed”, an online durian trading business affiliated with SCG, which also gave a presentation. According to the programme, SCG’s agricultural irrigation system team was also expected to attend, but they said they would join on another occasion. Other attendees included District Agriculture Officer Mr. Banyong Santiphithak; Head of the Agricultural Extension and Development Group Mr. Thirasak Yomsawat; Provincial Agriculture Officer Mr. Paisit Ketsathit; Director of the Cooperative Business Development Group Mr. Narong Watcharapanee; and, not to be missed, the “Agriculture-Minded District Chief”, Mr. Nakrop Na Thalang, who also honoured the event with his presence, among others. See more from the live broadcast: https://bit.ly/2G1rz8z"
The heart of this event was the farming community, with more than 100 farmers attending from Chumphon Province, neighbouring provinces across Southern Thailand, and even Bangkok. We would like to emphasise that their participation was not due to any one person or organisation, but to the collective cooperation of everyone involved.
Off-season durian production was the central focus of this learning session.
The learning atmosphere was lively throughout the day. The session began with an introduction to durian, starting with its history. Although the programme was originally planned as a half-day session, the large number of participants led to a full day of learning. The programme continued with durian cultivation, techniques for producing high-quality durian, and the main topic of the morning—off-season durian production. The session was led by Village Headman Damrongsak Sinsak, whose extensive knowledge allowed him to teach continuously with ease. He has been producing off-season durian since 1996. He is also a former boxer who competed in more than 200 fights, including at Rajadamnern Stadium, so he certainly had enough energy to keep the session going. The morning session can be viewed via the live broadcast: https://bit.ly/2G1VEVq In the afternoon, after enjoying a delicious meal prepared by Village Headman Damrongsak’s wife and her team, the participants walked to a nearby durian orchard. The practical session began with grafting and rootstock reinforcement techniques. The grafting process was demonstrated clearly for everyone to observe. The demonstrations can be viewed via the live broadcasts: https://bit.ly/2I1hx9D and https://bit.ly/2G1rz8z At the end of the session, the participants gathered for a group photograph. The people shown in the photograph represented only part of the group, as some participants who had travelled from distant provinces had already left. After the photograph, everyone enjoyed an unlimited tasting of durian. The durian tasting can be viewed via the live broadcast: https://bit.ly/2WSzlap
Afternoon Session in the Durian Orchard: Learning from Real-World Experience
Durian grafting demonstration.
The moment that captivated every participant was the durian tasting, with generous servings provided for everyone.
"The learning did not end there. From the durian orchard near the house, the group continued to another orchard about 500 metres away. Some participants walked and chatted along the way, while others travelled in the team’s Ford Ranger pickup truck, which was certainly put to full use. Upon arrival, everyone was amazed by the large durian trees, many of which were 30–40 years old. Several participants even hugged the trees, as some could generate around THB 100,000 per year, producing approximately one tonne of durian per tree. Perhaps they hoped that growing durian might one day make them as successful as the orchard owner. However, Village Headman Damrongsak described some trees as “lazy” because they produced fewer fruits. Even so, when we looked up, there still appeared to be several dozen durians growing on them."
The Ford Ranger providing transport for the participating farmers.
Members of the MeZ team, part of the SCG Group, embracing a 30–40-year-old durian tree.
At Village Headman Damrongsak’s durian orchard, we also learned about storing water for use in the orchard. A cement reservoir is used to store groundwater pumped up for irrigation, together with a simple water system that farmers can install themselves.
There is still much more knowledge to share. The success achieved began with small steps that any farmer can take. Many people asked how much investment would be required. The answer is only hundreds or thousands of baht, while the returns may reach tens or even hundreds of thousands of baht—and the value of the knowledge gained cannot be measured. It is like the saying, “A price in the hundreds, but a million-baht view.” However, none of this is the main purpose of this article.
Sharing his knowledge in full, without leaving out a single detail—even during the durian tasting, he explained how to identify each stage of ripeness.
The determination was clear on everyone’s faces—after all, they were about to taste the durian.
Our main objective—and the message we wish to convey—is that the success achieved was entirely the result of cooperation. Nothing could have happened without it. “Never think that small players cannot compete with the big ones.” In today’s world, digital technology has once again created a level playing field for everyone. “Big ideas” and “shared ideas” can bring people together and help them connect. We therefore wish to call upon farmers across the country, as well as everyone who shares the belief that “Agriculture is Thailand”, to join forces, work together, and move forward together.
A heartfelt thank-you to our kitchen team—every one of them is truly strong and hardworking.
Authentic local flavours, simply delicious.
We would also like to add that Kaset Kao Klai is preparing to embark on a new journey under the second year of the “Agriculture Is Thailand: Moving Forward Together” project. This year’s programme is entitled “Searching for Thailand’s Top Farmers” (THAILAND Super Farmers) under the theme “Farmers Are Superhumans”. Further details are available at: https://bit.ly/2IhdC7N The project launch is scheduled for Wednesday, 19 June 2019. In the meantime, we have already begun travelling to collect additional information. This includes the Farm-Based Classroom project, which has now been successfully tested and developed; the Digital for Farmers training programme, designed to equip farmers with digital knowledge; and the search for model water-management systems on agricultural land under the Kaset Water or Water for Farmers project. All these initiatives are additional activities alongside our news coverage and search for Thailand’s top farmers. This is undoubtedly a project greater than what we could accomplish alone. However, as we have said, cooperation is more powerful than anything else.
We will continue sharing more details about each activity, including how the projects are progressing and the organisations and individuals supporting them. For now, we would like to thank the Ford Ranger—“Tough for Every Farming Task”—a vehicle that reaches and understands farmers. We also thank all our “tough farmers” who came together to create this starting point. Now it is time to shift into gear and move forward together.
Thank you, Ford Ranger—tough for every farming task.
Note: For sponsorship or collaboration enquiries, please contact us by phone or LINE ID at 081-309-0599, or email kasetkaoklai@gmail.com. Thank you for your kind support.