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Case 1:
Somsak Thong-on, 45, farms in Chachoengsao, at the eastern edge of the Central Plains. Married with six children, he quit school after finishing grade 4 to help his parents farm rice. After he took over the property, he continued planting rice and between seasons, worked as a carpenter. In 1999, he received assistance from the Khao Hin Sorn Royal Development Study Centre to excavate a pond and train him in new agricultural techniques.
Today, on his 24- rai (3.84 hectares) farm, he devotes six rai (0.6 hectare) to rice, 10 rai (1.6 hectares) to a mango orchard, 5 rai (0.8 hectare) to horticulture, 2 rai (0.32 hectare) to the pond, and 1 rai (0.16 hectare) to housing and infrastructure. He also raises herbal plants, fruit, fish, and chickens. As a result, Mr. Somsak now earns a steady income that enables him to send his children for higher education in a nearby town.
Case 2:
Mr. Tongsuk and Mrs. Sawang Pimsarn, farm 19 rai (3.04 hectares) of land in the Wat Mongkol area of Saraburi Province just north of Bangkok . The couple received initial support from the Chaipattana Foundation to construct a 1.5 rai (0.24 hectare) water storage pond for irrigation and fish propagation. They then divided their land, devoting 5 rai (0.8 hectare) to rice in the rainy season and vegetables during the dry season; Six rai (0.96 hectare) were planted in fruit crops; 1.5 rai (0.24 hectare) in jasmine. The remainder was set aside as a living and garden area. Before implementing the New Theory, the couple averaged 30,000 baht per year from selling rice. After completing the revision, their income rose ten-fold to 300,000 baht per year.
Case 3:
Mr. Tian Paisan, 70, and Mr. Yai Laepadung, 56 of Khao Wong District of Kalasin Province in Thailand's Northeast, received help from the District office to dig a one- rai (0.15 hectare) pond. They each own 11 rai (1.76 hectares) of land on either side of the pond. They divided their land into 8-9 rai (1.28-1.44 hectares) plots for rice, 2 rai (0.32 hectare) along the pond edges for growing chilies, eggplants, galingale, lemongrass, and fruit trees including sweet tamarind, coconut, papaya, guava, and mango. They raise Nile Tilapia, Common Carp, and Barb in the pond. They also raise indigenous chickens and ducks which they eat and sell in the district market. As a result of their efforts, they have seen an impressive increase in their farm income. |
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