By Cath Isabedra
Thailand’s rice industry, long synonymous with high yields and export dominance, is undergoing a transformation far beyond traditional cultivation. Today, Thai rice farming is not just about producing multiple rice varieties; it’s about pioneering a movement toward self-sufficiency. Farmers are increasingly integrating sustainability and technology to meet the demands of a highly dynamic industry. This evolution is vital as the sector faces unprecedented challenges such as environmental degradation, fluctuating market prices, and the urgent need to secure food supply in the face of climate change.
The challenges at hand: Balancing sustainability and productivity
The Thai rice sector stands at a critical juncture. The intensification of agriculture can cause notable environmental challenges, including soil degradation, depletion of water resources, and high greenhouse gas emissions. These issues threaten the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and the nation’s food security.
Intensifying rice production without proper management can exacerbate environmental degradation. Continuous cultivation and the overuse of chemical fertilizers can result in soil degradation, reducing soil fertility and leading to long-term declines in crop yields. This degradation occurs because excessive fertilization can disrupt the natural nutrient balance in the soil, causing issues like soil acidification and loss of organic matter. Over time, this reduces the soil’s ability to support healthy plant growth, forcing farmers to rely even more on chemical inputs, creating a vicious cycle of degradation.
Furthermore, rice farming is highly water-intensive, often requiring more water than other staple crops. Increased rice production can deplete local water resources.
This is where sustainable agricultural practices come in. Techniques like alternate wetting and drying, integrated pest management, and crop diversification can help mitigate rice production’s environmental impact while maintaining or increasing productivity.
With the global population expected to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050, the pressure on Thai farmers to increase production while preserving the environment is immense. Addressing these challenges requires innovative approaches that balance sustainability with productivity.
Collaborative solutions: How partnerships are transforming Thai rice farming
In response to these complex challenges, the collaboration between Olam Agri, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is proving to be a groundbreaking partnership. These organizations have launched several initiatives to make rice farming in Thailand more sustainable and resilient.
The Market Oriented Smallholder Value Chain (MSVC) program, for instance, has been instrumental in improving the livelihoods of over 19,000 smallholder farmers by increasing their incomes by 20 percent. This increase is not merely a result of better pricing but is deeply tied to the introduction of sustainable farming practices that have allowed farmers to reduce costs and enhance productivity.
The MSVC program has also been a catalyst for environmental sustainability. The program has successfully reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 21 percent, primarily by adopting techniques like alternate wetting and drying and reducing chemical inputs. The program’s success in mitigating these emissions while improving water quality by 14 percent demonstrates the viability of integrating environmental goals with economic development in the agricultural sector.
Building on MSVC’s success, the Inclusive Sustainable Rice Landscapes (ISRL) project is set to elevate the Thai rice industry further. By 2027, ISRL aims to train 45,000 farmers, expanding sustainable practices across 90,000 hectares of farmland. This project emphasizes advanced agricultural techniques, including crop diversification and agroforestry, which bolster resilience against climate change and enhance biodiversity. The ISRL project is expected to play a crucial role in reducing over three million tonnes of CO2 equivalents and significantly reducing the use of toxic chemicals in farming.
Techniques such as crop diversification and agroforestry are being introduced to help farmers build resilience against climate change while improving biodiversity and ecosystem health. The development of new rice cultivars resistant to drought and floods demonstrates the crucial role of innovation in securing the future of rice farming in Thailand.
Voices from the fields: Thai rice farmers on the frontlines of change
At the heart of Thailand’s sustainable rice revolution are the farmers who have embraced new practices and technologies to secure their livelihoods and protect the environment. Thanu Thanhakij, a farmer from Ubon Ratchathani, reflects on the challenges of traditional rice farming. “It was 100 percent manual,” he recalls. “We had no machines, so we had to use buffaloes. Back then, whoever owned a buffalo was considered rich because they were so expensive. We would borrow from each other to plant the seedlings and harvest the crops, all while relying on simple tools like sickles for manual labor.”
Thanu further explained how the community was deeply intertwined in the process. “We went house by house asking, ‘Tomorrow I’m going to harvest, are you available?’ If you were available, you’d help, and in return, when it was your turn, others would help you.”
This cooperative spirit helped the farmers overcome the labor-intensive process. However, as climate change began to alter weather patterns, new challenges arose.
“In the past, when it was sunny, we could harvest, and when it was rainy, we would know when to stop. But now, when it rains, we can’t harvest because the roots are too long. It’s not normal anymore,” he says.
Another pressing issue for many farmers is the aging population of farmers. “The aging population of farmers is indeed a challenge,” he notes, “but I think it’s less of a problem than climate change. If the younger generation sees that farming is still profitable and there’s income to be made, they will come back. I’ve seen it happen where young farmers rent land from their relatives, using modern machinery and technology to manage 20 hectares, compared to the average of three hectares for older farmers.”
Mrs Banjong, another farmer in Ubon who has transitioned to sustainable rice farming, is hopeful about passing on her knowledge to the next generation.
“My son is already 30 years old and is working on the farm with me. I also have two grandchildren who come to help on Saturdays and after school. They’re learning the techniques, not through force, but by being part of the process.”
For many farmers like Thanu and Banjong, adopting sustainable farming practices was essential in mitigating these challenges. “Before, we couldn’t apply fertilizer because there wasn’t enough water. Now, with liquid fertilizer and improved methods, I can still manage to keep my crops growing. But it’s still challenging, and we’re seeing about a 50 percent reduction in yield due to climate events,” Thanu explains.
Despite these difficulties, Thanu and Banjong remain optimistic, adapting to the new conditions using traditional knowledge and innovative techniques. “We have to learn, adjust to the climate, and start new processes. We have to take care of nature by growing plants that can survive the changing conditions.”
This article first came out in our “Sip the Spirit of Asia” issue.
