Ban Limthong - a shining example in sustainability

[Lite Beer]

BURI RAM
Ban Limthong - a shining example in sustainability
Piyawadee Pimsa-noh
The Sunday Nation

BURI RAM: -- Ban Limthong, in Buri Ram's Nang Rong district, has won great applause for its water-management measures at a time when people are suffering from severe drought in many parts of the Kingdom.

Utokapat Foundation under the patronage of His Majesty the King and the Coca-Cola Foundation Thailand recently organised a media trip to show how this community was able to so efficiently handle both drought and flood crises. During the trip, members of the media observed the two foundations' personnel and 300 Coca-Cola's Positive Energy volunteers build five check dams, plant 10,000 vetiver grass heads and 3,000 trees around ponds to prevent soil erosion.

"Buri Ram is suffering from drought, forcing some villagers to leave their home and find new jobs. However, Ban Limthong has been safe from the drought thanks to the efforts of more than 6,000 residents, who are part of the 'Ban Limthong Water Management Network'. The members offered their own land to build 'monkey cheeks' as per the King's initiative," Utokapat Foundation secretary-general Royol Chitradon said, adding that his foundation and Coca-Cola want to promote Ban Limthong's success as a role model for other communities.

"Natural disaster is unforeseeable, but it can be prevented with preparation, and Ban Limthong has proved this. Their achievement also proves that building small catchments and expanding natural watercourses to store water in the rainy season would help farmers deal with droughts," he said.

Before the two foundations introduced Ban Limthong to the RAKNAM project in 2006, this community suffered water problems.

However, by collaborating with Utokapat Foundation, Coca-Cola Foundation Thailand - which provided more than Bt26 million to boost water-resource development via Coca-Cola's Positive Energy volunteers network - Ban Limthong has been able to efficiently manage its water resources with a focus on sustainable development.

"I used to have a tough time in the past. When there was rain, the land would get flooded, and when there was no rain, we'd have drought. Many people had to leave to find jobs in town. But after Utokapat Foundation and Coca-Cola helped us build the monkey cheeks, the water problem was solved. Now we have enough water for consumption and for agriculture all year round. We are living better lives, and after paying off our debts, our income has risen more than two-fold. We can even grow rice during drought thanks to the ample water supply," community leader Sanit Thipnangrong recounted.

Ban Limthong has 58 monkey-cheek ponds and a 40-kilometre long watercourse to store water during the rainy season.

More than 852 million litres of water has been collected over nine years, benefiting 2,200 families and 52,000 rai of farmland.

Ban Limthong has shared the knowledge with 42 other communities in five sub-districts nearby, namely Nong Bode, Chum Saeng, Tung Saeng Thong, Nang Rong and Lum Saiyong. The last two are launching their water-resource management measures this year.

Rapipan Thongdam, a resident at Ban Khok Ploung, recalled her time as a factory worker, when her family was burdened with debts and hardly had any time to spend together. However, after learning of the Ban Limthong model, she adjusted her perspective to "grow everything you eat and eat everything you grow", while sharing or selling the remainder.

She also donated one of her plots for a monkey-cheek pond, which connects to a waterway. Now, apart from growing vegetables like chilli, eggplants and beans, she is also growing banana and raising pigs cows, ducks and chicken. Also, during the dry season, she started growing mushrooms. Now she earns up to Bt30,000 per month. She has also started saving on fertiliser by using animal dung.

"My life's better and the family is closer. We now have some savings and are self-reliant," she said.

Ban Limthong's efforts were recognised with the Thailand Water Challenge Award from His Majesty in 2011 and again in 2014.

Coca-Cola Foundation director Nuntivat Thamhatai said Ban Limthong was a shining example of a sustainable community and provided a tangible demonstration of how the "golden triangle approach" - collaboration between Utokapat Foundation, local authorities and the community, together with Coca-Cola - helped boost sustainability.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Ban-Limthong--a-shining-example-in-sustainability-30265698.html

-- The Nation 2015-08-02

[Toknarok]

Great effort but I think it should be pointed out that Nang Rong this year has not suffered from drought, the rainfall though somewhat sporadic and light has been consistant.

[Thaddeus]

Great effort but I think it should be pointed out that Nang Rong this year has not suffered from drought, the rainfall though somewhat sporadic and light has been consistant.

Very true my friend, but it is also proof positive that politicians serve very little purpose.

[Bakseeda]

Great news for these communities.... what this shows more than anything is that nothing beats working... and nothing beats sharing..!

[Thakkar]

I must've missed it, but what was the name of the soft drinks company supporting this project?

T

[PETERTHEEATER]

And now, for the first time, we earn enough money to pay income tax......

[SunsetT]

Rather innappropriate naming it the 'Golden Triangle' initiative.