The baht opened at 33.51 to the US dollar on Friday, unchanged from Thursday’s closing rate.
Krungthai Bank market strategist Poon Panichpibool predicted the Thai currency would move between 33.40 and 33.60 during the day.
Poon said the baht will continue to swing sideways.
The Thai currency is being pressured by the strengthening dollar after the US Federal Reserve moved to implement tighter monetary policies, as well as demand for “safe-haven” assets in the short term.
Poon advised keeping a close watch on foreign transactions in Thai stocks, forecasting short-term foreign outflows. However, he expected foreign investors to continue purchasing bonds, which would support the baht and ensure it did not weaken much.
Exporters are selling the dollar in a range between 33.50 and 33.60. Poon said the baht would likely not weaken past that point unless the market goes heavily risk-off.
Amid high volatility in the currency market, businesses should use hedging tools such as options to manage risks, he added.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index is expected to fluctuate between 1,670 and 1,690 points on Friday due to a lack of positive sentiment, Krungsri Securities said.
It added that the index would be under pressure due to uncertainty over the US Federal Reserve’s move to shrink its balance sheet and raise the interest rate to curb inflation, as well as a lack of progress in Russia-Ukraine peace talks.
Meanwhile, foreign fund outflows both in stocks and futures markets would pressure the index,” Krungsri Securities said. “Hence we advise investors to buy shares which have gained specific positive sentiment.”
It recommends the purchase of the following as an investment strategy:
• GPSC, BGRIM, SCGP, SCC and EPG would benefit from the falling oil price.
• AOT, AAV, BA, MINT, CENTEL, ERW, CPN, CRC, HMPRO, CPALL, MAKRO, AMATA and WHA would benefit from countries reopening.
• BDMS, BH, INTUCH, ADVANC, BTS and BEM, which can tolerate market volatility.
The SET Index closed at 1,682.41 on Thursday, down 18.77 points or 1.10 per cent. Transactions totalled 97.09 billion baht with an index high of 1,694.23 and a low of 1,674.81.
Total spending over next week’s Songkran holiday could fall to the lowest in a decade, the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) warns.
Spending on travel, goods and services over Songkran will pump about 106.7 billion baht into the economy, down 5.4 per cent from the same period last year, according to a UTCC survey.
“Compared to the Songkran festival in 2019, before the Covid-19 situation, the estimated cash flow this year is down 21.4 per cent and could be the lowest in the past 10 years,” said Thanawat Pholwichai, director of the UTCC Centre for Economy and Business Forecasting on Thursday.
The survey showed that 64 per cent of respondents were worried about rising living costs as prices of products and fuel increase. They said this would prompt them to save up money instead of indulging in spending sprees during the holiday.
“45.1 per cent of respondents said they expected to spend less on Songkran this year compared to the previous year,” Thanawat added.
The UTCC estimates the Thai economy will grow 3-4 per cent this year, higher than estimates made by other institutes. It cited a gradual return to normality as people learned to live with Covid-19 due to the milder symptoms and lower death rate of the Omicron variant.
“Also, the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war will start to ease from the second quarter, after which Thailand’s exports are expected to grow 4-5 per cent due to rising global demand,” Thanawat said.
Other factors pushing economic expansion this year include the government’s easing of restrictions on foreign arrivals to boost tourism, and economic stimulus campaigns such as the “Let’s Go Halves” spending programme, phase 5 of which is expected to start in June and generate 45 billion baht in cash flow to the economy.
On fuel, the centre said the oil price will have no significant effect on the Thai economy if it does not exceed US$100 per barrel. The UTCC is confident the oil price will remain below that mark this year, after the United States last week announced it was releasing 1 million barrels per day from its reserve over the next six months to make up for the loss of Russian oil from global markets amid the Ukraine conflict.
The Board of Investment (BoI) has eased its terms for investment incentives in the electric vehicle (EV) charging business to help small operators or start-ups better access BoI benefits, secretary-general Duangjai Asawachintachit said on Thursday.
She said that with increased start-up participation, the ecosystem and infrastructure for EVs in Thailand would be expanded, which is necessary to build the confidence of prospective EV users.
The BoI’s executive board resolved at its meeting on Thursday to offer a five-year exemption from corporate tax to investors of EV charging stations, with at least 40 chargers and no less than 25 per cent of them delivering quick-charge services.
Investors who do not meet the requirements are entitled to a three-year exemption from corporate tax, according to Duangjai.
Also, the BoI decided to drop a requirement for the ISO 18000 international standard for radio frequency identification (RFID) and a term that eligible investors must not seek investment privileges from any other state agency.
However, investors seeking BoI benefits are required to connect their charging stations with an integrated central platform that manages the country’s charging station network. This is aimed at creating an ecosystem for EVs and charging stations, the BoI chief said.
Between January and March this year, BoI received applications for 378 investment projects worth a total of THB110.7 billion. The amount was down by 6 per cent when compared to the same period last year.
However, projects with foreign direct investment that sought BoI privileges totalled THB77.2 billion in the first quarter, a 29 per cent increase from the same period last year.
Most of the investments are from Taiwan (THB37.1 billion), followed by Japan (13.8 billion) and China (13.3 billion).
Most applications for BoI benefits came from the automobiles and parts industry, agricultural products and processed foods, electric appliances, and electronic products.
Meanwhile, projects worth THB60.3 billion have sought investment privileges in the Eastern Economic Corridor covering Rayong, Chonburi and Chachoengsao, according to the BoI.
They include projects that require advanced technologies in production, hard-disk drive suspension, multilayer printed circuit boards, multilayer ceramic chip capacitors, and fibre optics equipment.
The baht opened at 33.58 to the US dollar on Thursday, weakening from Tuesday’s close of 33.43.
Krungthai Bank market strategist Poon Panichpibool predicted the Thai currency would move between 33.50 and 33.70 during the day.
Poon said the baht might swing sideways in a wide range. The currency may weaken during the day as the dollar strengthens due to market worries surrounding the Russia-Ukraine war and the US Federal Reserve’s move to implement tighter monetary policies. Moreover, the Covid-19 situation in China has also affected investment in Asia, he pointed out.
Additionally, the baht might fluctuate as the European Central Bank (ECB) holds a key meeting. If the ECB signals that it will increase the interest rate, the euro might strengthen and pressure the dollar into weakening.
Poon advised a close watch on foreign transactions. He expected foreign investors to continue purchasing Thai assets, which would support the baht and keep it from weakening further during this period.
Poon said the baht’s resistance level would be 33.70, at which point exporters would offload the dollar. Meanwhile the key support level is 33.20, which would spur importers to purchase dollars.
Amid high volatility in the currency market, businesses should use hedging tools such as options to manage risks, he added.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index is expected to fall to between 1,685 and 1,690 points on Thursday due to the US Federal Reserve’s move to curb inflation, Krungsri Securities said.
“The Fed will shrink its balance sheet by US$95 billion [THB3.18 trillion] per month and raise the interest rate by 0.50 per cent up to twice,” it explained.
Krungsri Securities also said a drop in the crude oil price – after International Energy Agency members agreed to reduce their oil reserves by 120 million barrels to ease fuel prices – as well as the Russia-Ukraine war would pressure the index.
It recommends the purchase of the following as an investment strategy:
• GPSC, BGrim, SCGP, SCC and EPG, which would benefit from the falling oil price.
• AOT, AAV, BA, Mint, Centel, ERW, CPN, CRC, HMPro, CPAll, Makro, Amata, WHA, BH and BDMS, which would gain from countries reopening.
The SET Index closed at 1,701.18 on Tuesday, down 1.75 points or 0.10 per cent. Transactions totalled 68.44 billion baht with an index high of 1,708.89 and a low of 1,698.33.
The index was closed on Wednesday for Chakri Memorial Day.
Huawei Thailand CEO Abel Deng said the company is supporting and promoting several digital companies to become carbon neutral faster than others.
Several experts shared their perspectives on the green economy during a seminar “Go Green 2022” organised by Krungthep Turakij and Nation TV on March 17 at The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Bangkok’s Pathumwan district. Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow said green business, which focuses on greenhouse gas reduction, will be a solution and opportunity for Thailand’s economy. He pointed out the government had already announced clearly that Thailand will become carbon neutral by 2050 and net-zero gas emission by 2065.
Supattanapong Punmeechaow, Energy Minister”Greenhouse gas reduction is an important guideline to reduce reliance on energy from abroad and save domestic energy,” he said. He added that the government is putting its efforts to launch measures to mitigate rising fossil fuel prices. Supattanapong also thanked Huawei Thailand for being a good partner and having faith in the country’s potential. “Huawei is supporting and promoting several digital companies to become carbon neutral faster than others,” he added. Huawei Thailand CEO Abel Deng said the development of a green world will help boost economic growth and create sustainability of natural resources.
Abel Deng CEO of Huawei Thailand
He pointed out that the global society will pay attention to two issues in the future: digitisation and low carbon, which will lead to eco-friendly development. “More than 66 countries and regions had set up goals and road maps related to national carbon emissions, while more than 170 countries and regions had announced national strategic plans related to digital,” he said. He added that the Covid-19 pandemic had caused an impact on living, business and society. “Amid uncertainties, we must admit that digital transformation is a key to support Thailand and global economic growth,” he added.
Kiatchai Maitriwong, Executive Director of Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organisation
Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organisation executive director Kiatchai Maitriwong said the organisation is creating awareness of greenhouse gas reduction among sectors. He pointed out that carbon is one of seven types of greenhouse gases that came from the public, transportation, energy, agriculture and industrial sectors.
Thanyaporn Krichtitayawuth, Director Global Compact Network Thailand (GCNT)”Every sector, including the government, private, community and public must set goals and mechanisms on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and how to evaluate carbon credits,” he said. Global Compact Network Thailand (GCNT) director Thanyaporn Krichtitayawuth said the network members worldwide had made a commitment to reduce greenhouse gases to ensure that the global temperature will not increase further. She said GCNT aimed to encourage leading Thai companies to apply technologies to gain control of greenhouse gas emissions within 2050. “More than half of 1,000 CEOs worldwide believe that climate change will affect them,” she said. She added that climate change is also an investment opportunity for the business sector if entrepreneurs change their businesses to be in line with greenhouse gas reduction and sustainable goals, as well as seeking business with foreign entrepreneurs.
Aphinya Siranart, Accelerator Lab Head of Exploration United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s Accelerator Lab Head of Exploration Aphinya Siranart said every sector, especially the business sector, must solve various issues to tackle global warming, such as people and financial mechanisms. She added that all entrepreneurs must improve their business plans and join with other sectors on greenhouse gas reduction, not only grow plants.
Prasit Boondoungprasert, CEO of Charoen Pokphand Foods Charoen Pokphand Foods CEO Prasit Boondoungprasert said the company had reduced more than 500,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions last year. With a plan to drive the business towards sustainability, he expected that the company would be able to reduce greenhouse gases further.
Prakob Phiencharoen, Executive Vice President of Bank of Ayudhya Bank of Ayudhya executive vice president Prakob Phiencharoen said the bank has launched more financial services related to environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) to support customers. He said the bank aims to grant up to THB100 billion in loans related to ESG, adding that sustainable finance will play an important role in future funding.
Pakkapol Leopairut, Executive Vice President of TPI Polene Power TPI Polene Power executive vice president Pakkapol Leopairut said the company will modify its power plants to produce electricity from waste within 2025. “This move will enable the company to become net-zero carbon emission and be able to sell 12.45 million tonnes of carbon credits annually from 2026 onwards,” he said. Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand honorary chairman Yossapong Laoonual said the electric vehicle (EV) industry is growing in line with trends of net-zero carbon emission. He added that batteries and motors inside EVs are keys to obtain clean and renewable energy.
Thai travellers are expected to make some 3.34 million trips to celebrate Songkran from April 13 to 17 and spend around THB11 billion, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said on Wednesday.
TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said occupancy at hotels and resorts around the country during the period was expected to average around 41 per cent.
He said the travelling and spending would, however, be much lower than the pre-Covid level because the country’s economy had not yet fully recovered and many Thais were wary of the Omicron variant.
The TAT governor said most travellers would likely use their personal vehicles to avoid the chance of contracting the virus and they would spend less than usual during Songkran.
The TAT expects about 754,380 Thais would travel to the Northeast and spend around THB1.3 billion during the Songkran holidays, with average room occupancy of around 55 per cent.
The Central region is expected to see average room occupancy of 53 per cent with 735,166 tourists spending around THB1.47 billion.
The TAT said 560,980 Thais would visit the eastern region, ensuring average hotel room occupancy at 41 per cent, and spend about THB2.3 billion.
Some 445,399 tourists are expected to visit the South and spend around THB2.7 million, with average room occupancy at 37 per cent, while 385,468 tourists are expected to travel to the North and spend THB1.35 billion, with average occupancy at 37 per cent.
The TAT governor said Bangkok would see room occupancy of 27 per cent with 458,907 tourists visiting the capital and spending around THB1.8 million during the Songkran holidays.
The governor said Bangkokians are expected to mostly visit tourist destinations near the capital, such as those in Chonburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Kanchanaburi and Ayutthaya.
Would you like to shop online but also contribute towards a good cause? SocialGiver, a non-profit shopping platform, is making a bold attempt at a marriage of business and charity.
SocialGiver, launched in 2015, offers a new way to donate for helping society even as you shop like on any other e-commerce website. It has been developed to meet the needs of contemporary Thai people, to make it easier for them to make purchases online. SocialGiver differentiates itself from other e-commerce services through its emphasis on social conscience, by partnering many social enterprises and local businesses.
Their mission is to connect and use the public’s spending power to create a positive change in the world. Buying through SocialGiver would mean choosing to support local business and social enterprises in giving back to society.
On April 5, socialgiver.com hosted the Socialgiver Awards at Chatrium Hotel in Bangkok. The event was organised to reward people, influencers, media, brand quality and social enterprises and to give out the inaugural Ecosystem Creator Award.
Speaking at the event, Aliza Napartivaumnuay, the founder of SocialGiver Thailand, shared the goal of this platform. “It is such a great idea if every time when we are shopping, we can satisfy our need for buy a good product at a good price and good service from a very convenient platform, and also do some good. With every purchase you make, you can support local businesses and social enterprises which continue to contribute their profit to help society.” It means that every time you shop through them, shoppers can also join in donating to charities to make society better.
“Social enterprise is a business model that aims to solve social or environmental problems, while also being able to generate profits to operate the business sustainably and create tangible social outcomes. This would pave the way for the sustainable survival of Thai society in the Covid-19 era. The SocialGiver Award 2022 event is organised to reward the person and brand quality that contributes to a better future for society,” she said.
Speaking at the forum on “Tourism Authority of Thailand x Socialgiver = Meaningful Travel”, TAT’s deputy governor for domestic marketing, Thapanee Kiatphaibool, said the authority officially supports the SocialGiver platform for promoting Thai brands in tourism sector businesses.
She said it is a very good option for the shoppers who will have more choices in the market and in the process can also support local businesses while contributing to charities at the same time.
Things are gradually turning around for Thailand’s tourism industry, Thapanee said. “Since the beginning of April, TAT has seen a good number of domestic and international travellers, giving a boost to tourism. In particular, there is an improvement in arrivals in the international sector,” she said. Under revised “Test & Go” rules effective from April 1, international travellers will be allowed to enter Thailand without the need to show proof of a negative RT-PCR test before boarding the flight, she added.
TAT expects 50,000 visitors in April. The tourism agency has activated its 29 offices around the world to promote travels to Thailand by reviving many tourist programmes, rebuilding the skills of travel agents and prioritising concerns about travel safety.
In addition to the social dimension, the Meaningful Travel campaign is a collaboration with SocialGiver. Every time, shoppers make bookings through SocialGiver, they will help support nature conservation and protect green spaces throughout Thailand due to many collaborations and other projects, without paying more. SocialGiver aims to make shoppers’ holidays even more special by donating half of whatever they spend to fundraise for the charities to create a lasting impact throughout Thailand. They plan to take this project to the region in the future.
The “Power of Human Energy: A Journey Inspired by the King” project has not been without its difficulties, but its successes have more than paid off
Following His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy isn’t always easy, but it should not be rejected either as being too difficult. Today, nine years after it started, the “Power of Human Energy: A Journey Inspired by the King” project, has achieved its objectives.
Managed by Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production, the Institute of Sufficiency Economy and the Agri-Nature Foundation, this human-driven project, based on the late beloved monarch’s theories on water conservation, aimed to instruct people living in and around the Pa Sak River on how to design catchment areas – “loom kanom krok” or “khok nong na” as they are known in Thai – in order to prevent floods and provide water during the drought.
Dr Wiwat Salyakamthorn, president of the Agri-Nature Foundation and Institute of Sufficiency Economy, says: “I have been an instructor in rural development and a rural developer since 1974. My work has shown me how difficult it is to make people change their minds. The art of magnetic communication is to attract and charm people with knowledge.
“If they start taking action, they’ll see results. The sufficiency economy philosophy has more than 40 theories and success looks different for everyone. Thailand’s special forces helped change villagers’ mindsets and that in itself was a victory in the war over hardship. Famously, a foreign reporter once asked the late King if his struggle was against the Communists, to which His Majesty said no, the battle is against starvation. So, His Majesty’s philosophy of sufficiency is not just about solving the water problem, but also saving people’s lives.”
Arthit Kritpipat, business support general manager of Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production Ltd, says: “Social networks have played an important role as a public relations tool, showing examples and allowing people to chat with each other. When Covid-19 arrived, we created an online agri-nature handbook to serve as the foundation for self-sufficiency standards and to further expand knowledge. Now, many people are paying attention to ‘khok nong na’.”
Moving step by step
The past nine years have been divided into three stages comprising creating a social ripple, creating instructors and tools and creating abundance.
Dr Wiwat, who is better known as Ajarn Yak, recalls the early days, saying: “I remember when the King wrote his new theory and three procedures for small farmers to follow on a computer himself. The guidelines were on how to have enough to eat, how to collaborate in the community and how to join with government, private companies, and foundations. The prime minister, who was also commander-in-chief at that time, ordered military units around the country to study at the Mab Aung Natural Agriculture Centre and practice making 100 ‘khok nong na’ at Army training units for six months before heading to villages to build another 100 over the following six months.
“The ‘khok nong na’ at the Special Warfare Command in Lop Buri, which was led by Maj-General Thanasak Kengthanomma, is considered the most beautiful and amazing.
“In the second three-year phase, some of those who had completed their catchments and were running their smallholdings according to the self-sufficiency philosophy became teachers and turned their places into learning centres. They included Ban Pong Ket School in Saraburi where the teacher initially received complaints from parents that their children were learning to dig. But, after Covid-19, their children participated in collaborative farming activities, or ‘Aou Mue’ in Thai, and were able to support our agri-nature networks.
“In the last phase, ‘khok nong na’ were developed and became more abundant, while learning centres became more powerful and effective. The most important achievement was changing people’s mindsets; those who once thought we were going mad by insisting on and making use of our swampy agricultural land, turned to follow the King’s philosophy.”
This nine-year project has utilised “Aou Mue” collaborative farming to improve the land of nine sufficiency economy learning centres with catchments for water. They are Boonrom Taokaew’s Suan Lom Sri Rin Sufficiency Economy Centre in Saraburi, Sila Muangngam’s Ban Hin Ngon Community Learning Centre in Phetchabun, Piranrat Sookpeat’s Khuen Pa Sak Learning Centre in Lop Buri, Maj-General Thanasak Kengthanomma at the Special Warfare Command in Lop Buri, Sawaeng Srithammabut’s Naring Church Earth Safe Standard Agri-Nature Centre in Udon Thani, Bandid Chimchat’s Si Nan National Park in Nan, Krongkan Sirapaibulporn’s Haihao Farm in Lampang, Pranee Chaitaweepornsuk’s Bok Lao Kao Tam Sufficiency Economy Centre in Chaiyaphum and Sunita Haewnok’s Sa-ngiamkam Agriculture Farm in Nakhon Ratchasima.
Boonrom Taokaew says: “My parents owned 20 rai of paddy fields. Previously, my father rented another 80 rai of fields in the hope of becoming rich from the rice trade, but couldn’t pay back his loans due to insufficient output. In 1992, he had the chance to see the new theory of agriculture of HM the late King at Wat Mongkhon Chai Phatthana and began digging an 8-metre deep swamp on one-rai of land for water catchment. After that, he stopped renting the 80-rai of fields and planted 300 mango, 100 santol and 100 jackfruit trees, which didn’t sell as well as expected. His mindset, however, changed after he attended a course at Mab Aung Agri-Nature Centre because the main purpose of New Theory Agriculture is to make farmers more self-reliant through holistic management of their land while living harmoniously with nature and within society.”
A legacy of sufficiency
The project came to an end this year at the Sufficiency Economy Learning Centre, Suan Lom Sri Rin in Saraburi, which featured a photography exhibition presenting several farming activities of the nine learning centres as well as 21 booths from the agri-nature networks in several provinces offering fresh vegetables and fruits, food and beverages, processed goods, and handicrafts.
Suparpron Kanjaree from Suan Kanjaree Learning Centre in Lop Buri owns 13 rai and has transformed 6 rai into “khok nong na” after taking a course at Mab Aung Agri-Nature Learning Centre in Chon Buri.
“Previously, we practised monoculture farming – growing corn – but nowadays we can grow upland rice, several vegetables, bananas, cabbage and jackfruit, and make processed products such as pickled fish, sour fish with fermented rice and a herbal drink from dried bael fruit after learning the ways of nourishing the soil and digging a swamp for water catchment. Our lives are better because we have organic products that are good and safe. Right now, we are very proud of our shady area where students come to learn about planting practices. Taking part in the King’s philosophy means having perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves.”
Thanaporn Pangjid from Art & Mam Farm Slow Life in Saraburi enjoys a healthy life with many organic vegetables and fruits such as “phak plang” (Ceylon spinach), “cha om” (Senegalia pennata), sweet basil, banana, mango, papaya and coconut on her 4-rai land after taking on the King’s philosophy.
“We are preserving and making local sweets ‘Khao Piang’ [black glutinous rice with shredded coconut] and ‘Khanom Tok Huab or Khao Krieb Wow’ [crispy rice] using my grandmother’s recipes. We follow the King’s new theory of nine steps to a sufficiency economy livelihood, especially the 7th step of preservation. Prices for all products have increased as a result of Covid-19, but we aren’t too badly affected because we have vegetables and fruits from our farm, which keeps costs down.”
Wanida Damrongchai, or Kamnan Kai, a village chief in Sao Hai District of Saraburi and president of Kok Na Sai Sufficiency Economy Learning Centre, has followed in the King’s footsteps of sufficiency economy philosophy for four years on her 20 rai of land after having learned by trial and error for five years.
“I’m a leader, so I felt I had to create a model for people in our community to see how good it is before persuading them to believe in what I did. It was very difficult to change their mindset. They thought that rice farming was better for productivity, while ‘khok nong na’ damaged their farm with potholes. They didn’t know how to earn money. But I proved them wrong even though I don’t do rice farming, as I have income from my productivity.
“We created our signature drink, Iced Tamarind Americano, sell doormats made by housewives and brooms by a group of seniors. Over the past two years, many more people have started paying attention to ‘khok nong na’.”
Supattanapong Punmeechaow, Energy Minister”Greenhouse gas reduction is an important guideline to reduce reliance on energy from abroad and save domestic energy,” he said.
Abel Deng CEO of Huawei Thailand
Kiatchai Maitriwong, Executive Director of Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organisation
Thanyaporn Krichtitayawuth, Director Global Compact Network Thailand (GCNT)”Every sector, including the government, private, community and public must set goals and mechanisms on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and how to evaluate carbon credits,” he said.
Aphinya Siranart, Accelerator Lab Head of Exploration United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s Accelerator Lab Head of Exploration Aphinya Siranart said every sector, especially the business sector, must solve various issues to tackle global warming, such as people and financial mechanisms.
Prasit Boondoungprasert, CEO of Charoen Pokphand Foods
Prakob Phiencharoen, Executive Vice President of Bank of Ayudhya
Pakkapol Leopairut, Executive Vice President of TPI Polene Power
Dr Wiwat, who is better known as Ajarn Yak, recalls the early days, saying: “I remember when the King wrote his new theory and three procedures for small farmers to follow on a computer himself. The guidelines were on how to have enough to eat, how to collaborate in the community and how to join with government, private companies, and foundations. The prime minister, who was also commander-in-chief at that time, ordered military units around the country to study at the Mab Aung Natural Agriculture Centre and practice making 100 ‘khok nong na’ at Army training units for six months before heading to villages to build another 100 over the following six months.
“In the second three-year phase, some of those who had completed their catchments and were running their smallholdings according to the self-sufficiency philosophy became teachers and turned their places into learning centres. They included Ban Pong Ket School in Saraburi where the teacher initially received complaints from parents that their children were learning to dig. But, after Covid-19, their children participated in collaborative farming activities, or ‘Aou Mue’ in Thai, and were able to support our agri-nature networks.
This nine-year project has utilised “Aou Mue” collaborative farming to improve the land of nine sufficiency economy learning centres with catchments for water. They are Boonrom Taokaew’s Suan Lom Sri Rin Sufficiency Economy Centre in Saraburi, Sila Muangngam’s Ban Hin Ngon Community Learning Centre in Phetchabun, Piranrat Sookpeat’s Khuen Pa Sak Learning Centre in Lop Buri, Maj-General Thanasak Kengthanomma at the Special Warfare Command in Lop Buri, Sawaeng Srithammabut’s Naring Church Earth Safe Standard Agri-Nature Centre in Udon Thani, Bandid Chimchat’s Si Nan National Park in Nan, Krongkan Sirapaibulporn’s Haihao Farm in Lampang, Pranee Chaitaweepornsuk’s Bok Lao Kao Tam Sufficiency Economy Centre in Chaiyaphum and Sunita Haewnok’s Sa-ngiamkam Agriculture Farm in Nakhon Ratchasima.
SootinClaimon.Com 