Work

 

Ms. Polkhayan has served as a field worker with Alternative Agriculture Network for over 4 years. In this position she organizes meetings for the farmer members in which they support each other through sharing and exchanging of ideas. Ms. Polkhayan provides various types of training for these groups, including proper agricultural accounting management. One project she has been deeply involved in is natural pig rearing, by the “deep bed” or “Korean” system. This method of raising pigs is healthy for humans, pigs, and the environment, producing healthy pig and rich compost. It is a good method for home income generation and so far she has succeeded in working with 29 households to set up this pig raising system.

Ms. Polkhayan has also joined hands with the farmers to campaign on agricultural policy on the local and national level. “My community is rich in natural resources,” she relates, “but the farmers rely heavily on chemicals to increase yield. These affect the soil and health condition of the community who get diseases and are burdened by the high investment cost.” At ARI Ms. Polkhayan would like to strengthen her potential to effectively work for people. “I can apply the knowledge and experiences I gain to maximum benefit of the villagers and farmers in my hometown.”

 

Sending Organization

 

The Alternative Agriculture Network of Kalasin Province focuses on helping villagers/farmers find their own solutions to the problems that have emerged from ‘development’ and globalization. AAN supports alternative agriculture and creates networks to promote participation among villagers. Their hope is to change assumptions farmers hold towards farming by helping them see the negative impacts of unsustainable farming practices on the community. One project the ‘Rainbow Plan’ carries out local waste-management sustainability. AAN collects natural waste-products from restaurants and markets and takes it to a compost processing center run by AAN groups where it is turned into organic fertilizer and then distributed to local farmers.