Work

 

Mr. Siwakorn Odochoa lives in a culturally diverse environment. His community consists of three main ethnicities: Karen, Northern Thai and a Mixture of smaller ethnicities. Traditionally these people depend on various kinds of agriculture such as rotational agriculture, irrigated paddy fields or highland crops. Although farming has always been subsistent it is now about to change to commercial agriculture which means that the farmers become dependent on chemical fertilizers, seeds and pesticides. These products are usually connected to a subordinate market mechanism and thus jointly responsible for slow progress. In order to work against this development Mr. Siwakorn Odochoa practices an organic approach to farming and has organized a youth group which calls itself “gloom khon khi keat” (the group of lazy people). This group consists of five farms which grow organic rice, vegetables and fruits. The main purpose is to be an example for local people and the crops are sold on Chiang Mai markets. Although the local people show interest in Mr. Siwakorn Odochoa’s doings there always are people who reject learning. These narrow minded people, who are deeply prejudiced, are the biggest challenge to a new agricultural approach. The state policy plays an important role in this matter because it promotes mono crop agriculture which leads to a transformation of 80% of land in lowland communities towards intensive chemical use.

 

Sending Organization

 

The Institute for sustainable development education promotion (ISDEP) is an affiliate of the Northern Development Foundation (NDF). The main area of interest is Northern Thailand which consists of eight mostly rural provinces. Their actions mainly focus on supporting NGOs and other peoples’ organizations with teaching and providing materials. These organizations coordinate various projects which aim at the improvement of social environment. One example is the Mae Wang Watershed Community Project (Witthayalai Chao Bann Lum Nam Wang) which is a learning institute for local communities that collected traditional knowledge on natural resources management and conducts joint curriculum with schools in the same district.