Regenerative Rice Farming in Thailand

CONTEXT

Rice, a major crop for Thai household consumption and export purposes, is confronted with unoptimized yields while production costs and unpredictable weather conditions put farmers’ margins at risk. With the end of subsidized farmgate prices, conventional rice cultivation appears no longer profitable. Moreover, the high use of agrochemicals has resulted in soil degradation and lower yields.

OBJECTIVE

To pilot a unique regenerative rice cultivation method for restoring long-term soil fertility with fewer inputs and less water, and providing cash crop diversification for smallholder farmers

APPROACHES

The project provides innovative rice cultivation technology to get better rice. The project partners have also guaranteed to buy the better rice produced from farmers. This innovative rice cultivation technology will help farmers earn more income, get higher yields and reduce production costs.

RESULTS SO FAR

• 155 farmers in Chai Nat and Angthong have been trained in the new innovative rice cultivation technology.
• 92.3% of these farmers have adopted these new technologies and their yields have increased by 12.6%.
• 88.65% of total farmers, who sold rice to recommended markets received a bonus payment of THB 300 per metric ton of wet paddy. The project also facilitated and set up collecting points, which were close to their farms.

FINANCED BY

LIVELIHOODS FUNDS ACT TODAY FOR A BETTER FUTURE

COUNTRY

Thailand

PROJECT PARTNERS

Livelihood Fund for Family Farming (L3F), Mars Food, HERBA Bangkok (Ebro) and Thai Rice Department

PROJECT DURATION

11/2018 – 03/2020

MORE INFORMATION

www.asean-agrifood.org