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THAILAND
Empowering Sustainability Through Education in Thailand
Protecting Thailand’s environment and wildlife is paramount for its sustainable growth. Sustainable agriculture in Thailand is a growing sector that is evolving thanks to the efforts of activists, entrepreneurs, and local communities who aim to balance environmental protection with socio-economic development, and is of vital importance for the preservation of nature and the well-being of local communities. The annual “smoking season” in the North of the country, characterized by poor air quality from agricultural burning and other factors, can severely deter people seeking clear skies and live healthy. The smoking season is when farmers set fires to clear agricultural land, particularly corn, and prepare for new crops. During this period, from half February to half April, the air is often unbearable. Hillkoff has been a pioneer in promoting sustainable farming methods that reduce the need for burning land. Naruemon Taksaudom is the Managing Director of Hillkoff and plays a key role in promoting the involvement of local communities in coffee production. By working directly with farmers, Naruemon has created opportunities for local populations to develop sustainable economic activities related to the production of high-quality coffee. “Hillkoff processes the coffee grown by local tribes and distributes it. The company was founded by my father years ago, and we make all kinds of products with coffee, not just the classic drink, using the entire fruit. Our work is to enable local tribes to enter the coffee sector sustainably and organically” Naruemon explains to me. Hillkoff work closely with local communities to raise awareness among farmers about the importance of adopting eco-friendly agricultural practices, such as organic farming and soil management techniques, and explains that, besides harming the environment, burning practices undermine long-term economical opportunities for sustainable agricultural growth. “I am thinking to change my plantation in coffee, the market here in Thailand is growing” tell me Narit Panakumnerd, grower from Chiang Mai Province. “I have switched my plantation in coffee some years ago” admit Teeranon Kaesareekul. Coffee plantations don’t need to be burn because they can grow for years. “About fifty years ago, our fields were opium poppies. My father started changing the plantations by eliminating the poppies and planting other crops. Today I grow coffee so that we can be sustainable and not burn our fields with chemicals.” tell me Suchat Temboonhunsa, from the village of Huai Mi, Pai District in the the Mae Hong Son Province. Hillkoff ensures that this growth is rooted in a deep understanding and respect for the land, creating a model for ethical and community-driven enterprise, by processing the coffee of local tribes and educating them in organic farming, they are fostering a sustainable entry into the coffee industry, so in this way, the farmers are educated, and the polluted air due to the smoking season can be reduced.
The project has been published online and print by Specchio, weekly of La Stampa.
