Empowering smallholder rice farmers through community support

Although it is generally acknowledged that smallholder rice farmers are vital to feeding the country, they remain vulnerable, struggling to deal with challenges like poverty and the ever-growing threats of climate change.

Increasing yields and the quality of the rice grown are among the key factors in improving productivity and generating better income.

Following the large rice field management scheme initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in 2018, the Rice Department has been supporting communities to produce quality rice seeds and processed rice products and also enhancing opportunities for circularity.

Today, there are more than 4,700 communities across the nation that serve as distribution hubs for quality rice seeds.

Owat Yinglap, director of the department’s Rice Product Development Division, noted that Thailand has around 65 million rai of rice farming land accounting for 43% of the total agricultural area, but the department can only supply 100,000 tons of rice seeds through its rice seeds centers, making the communities crucial to producing quality seeds of various rice varieties, especially Khao Dok Mali 105 and Kor Khor 15 (jasmine rice).

Chun Rice Seed Production Center Community Enterprise in Chun District of Phayao Province is a model for the development and adaptation of smallholder rice farmers.

Established in 2005 with only 25 farmers, the enterprise's membership now encompasses 1,000 households, covering more than 1,000 rai of rice-farming land.

Thanks to several decades of experience in organic rice production and continued development, Chun Rice Seed Production Center Community Enterprise is recognised for the premium quality of its rice seeds and rice under the "Khao Hom Soi Sri" brand.

Chumyanut Phrawisat, a key driver of the center, said that the enterprise now produces 5 rice varieties, namely Hom Mai 15 (Kor Khor 15), Brown Rice, Red Rice, Khao Kam, and Riceberry. Phayao received Geographical Indication registration for Khao Dok Mali 105 and Kor Kho 15 covering paddy, brown rice and white rice due to the high nutritional value of the rice grown in this ancient volcanic area, as well as its softness and durable fragrance.

Chumyanut Phrawiset, a key driver of Community Enterprise in Chun District, Phayao province

With support from the Rice Department, the community enterprise improved the quality of rice seeds and production through new knowledge, techniques, and technologies.

Member farmers produce one primary crop a year with an average yield of 650 kilograms per rai.

In addition, Chumyanut and other member farmers are learning to develop marketing strategies via offline and online channels, as well as processed products from rice and by-products from producing rice.

However, Pian Tongsat, 73, expressed concern at the lack of young farmers, saying this remains a big problem.

Smallholder farmers depend on family labor but rice farming is not an attractive proposition for their children..

Tambon Si Don Moon Rice Community Enterprise Center in Chiang San, Chiang Rai Province is another model of sustainable rice practice.

Product from rice project in Chiang Rai

Founded in 2014, it won the best provincial large-scale rice field system in 2023 from the Department of Agricultural Extension.

Vorn - Thananuwat Chanfong, 57, head of the community center, said that over a decade ago, the benefits of a large rice field management system were discussed after farmers suffered from poor and inadequate rice seeds.

But he struggled to encourage farmers to form a group because most of them were not looking towards a sustainable future.

From only 27 farmers from 6 villages in Tambon Si Don Moon that agreed to set up a rice community enterprise center, it has now increased membership to 38 covering combined rice fields of 1,037 rai based on GAP (Good Agricultural Practice) standard.

To ensure the quality of its rice, the community center has a committee to inspect the entire rice production process from rice fields, paddy cultivation, milling and dyeing, enabling consumers to get 100% of each rice type.

However, Vorn needs more agricultural tools such as a modern rice mill, a rice color sorter, and dyer to further improve the quality.

In addition, Tambon Si Don Moon Rice Community Enterprise Center with support from Chiangrai Rajabhat University is eyeing opportunities to develop processed products from rice including rice malt, wort, wine, craft beer, and distilled alcoholic beverages like Soju rice.

It is currently in the process of sending samples to the Excise Department for a license to produce the commercial products.

The center also turns rice straw into paper products and materials for mushroom production, which will help reduce field burning,

Product from straw

Today, Tambon Si Don Moon Rice Community Enterprise Center is a learning center for farmers, university students, and public and private organizations.

As for Vorn, he is no longer seen just as a farmer with local wisdom, but as a speaker who is much in demand to transfer his knowledge and experience in integrated rice production and new theory agriculture.

Bird’s eye view of a rice field in Chiang Rai