Smart Farming: Uthai Thani Farmers Show The Way

[george]

Uthai Thani farmers show the way

UTHAI THANI: -- When it comes to managing a farm, the smart farmer takes an approach that is similar to that taken by the successful financier toward the management of an investment portfolio - he emphasises minimising risk, not maximising profits. So says Uthai Thani farmer Manit Jaengkhetgarn.

"Farmers who aim to make the highest profits from their farms often fail, because they end up with high production costs, resulting from overinvestment in inputs," said Manit, whose farm has been selected as a learning centre for other farmers.

His management philosophy resembles that of the world+s richest investor, Warren Buffett, renowned for his focus on minimising risk.

Manit raises fish and grows rice and other vegetables in a dry area far from any irrigation system. His farm in Uthai Thani+s Thap Than district depends entirely on rainwater.

Thanks to wise management, he has survived comfortably for 11 years. He and his wife dug several deep ponds on the farm to raise frogs, catfish and other species.

In the ponds, Manit uses wastewater treated with microorganisms. One pond is reserved for fresh water, which is used to refill any pond that requires it during dry periods.

I never face water shortages, as many farmers do from February to April," he said.

Parts of Manit's 27-rai farm are devoted to other activities. Manit manages to grow two rice crops a year. Most farmers who depend on rainwater only manage one. He also has vegetables and fruit trees. Some trees provide him with the raw materials needed for making wood vinegar to fight insects, as well as for charcoal.

The farm is organic, lowering Manit's costs as he has no need to buy fertilizers or other chemicals.

Another farmer whose farm was selected as a study centre is Arun Guasomboon, whose organic farm has cattle, rice, cassava, corn, sugarcane and other vegetables on a 20-rai land plot in Huai Khot district of Uthai Thani province.

Arun is well known for doubling production on his 3-rai cassava plot to 10 tonnes per rai from between 4 and 5 tonnes.

While others plant cassava on large land plots hoping to achieve large yields, I only farm 3 rai. The smaller size allows me to give the crop more care," said Arun, 35, who manages the farm with the help of just four family members.

Both Arun and Manit's families earn income year-round from their various commodities.

-- The Nation 2010-02-22

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