Namfang Livelihood development and Environmental conservation Project

Project Number: 22-0510-12

Project Period: 2007-2011

Project Holder:
 
In 2001, Amao Ja-ue, as a local farmer, met with Heifer Thailand Team. Then program officers gave a visit at Huay Luang, San Tat villages and student dormitory to provide the training on ‘Heifer Cornerstones’. After that, Heifer provided assistance to 42 families in San Tat Village in terms of livestock, kitchen gardens, and saving group. In same year, Mr. Amao and village representatives extended the activities under Heifer’s mission to other 3 communities nearby: Pang Kwai, Huay Luang and Huay Chan Sri. These target communities have around 33 families and was provided activities on feed formulation, small animals (pigs, cattle, chicken and fish), and kitchen gardens.

To extend the success to more communities, Mr.Amao and village representatives formed the organization called Capacity Improvement of Tribal Community in Namfang Basin (CITC).

The organization has gained the strong reputation by Heifer activities. Each year, there are a large number of visitors having the study tour at villages under CITC more than 400. In addition, Ms.Awuma who won WiLD Award in 2004 and Ms.Wilaiporn who won GTA award 2004 also helped promote the animal-based holistic approach through their learning centers, and the stories of their success as well inspired other farmers in nearby villages to overcome poverty with agricultural activities.

Project Profile:

In Fang area, hill tribe farmers faced the hardship in income generation as the land is not enough for cultivation and low quality, lack of financial source, instability of occupation, and environmental problem. Capacity Improvement of Tribal Community in Namfang Basin (CITC) will support 40 families in two villages that are Baan Salak and Baan Wai with agricultural and environmental activities. Livestock and agricultural inputs will be provided as followed: 40 cows, 72 swine, 75 poultry, 32,500 fish, 40 kg of seeds, 1,000 seedlings, 25 fish ponds, 1 water tank, 2 biogas units,1 corn grinder machine, 1 rice mill, as well as animal feed for 4,550 kilograms. Regarding the environmental problem, 3,000 trees will be planted and organic fertilizer will be promoted. Two saving groups will be established will be set up. Moreover, the target villagers in 2 villages will received various training properly, which includes cornerstones, animal management, financial management, group management, feed formulation, and study tour.  The ultimate goal of this project is the self reliance based on cornerstones principle.

Project areas: Fang district, Chiang Mai, THAILAND

Local Conditions & Opportunities for Assistance:

Land: It is found that most of the villagers have no lands for cultivation. To do so, they need to rent a land and the rental is imbalance to the product they sell; that is, little income but much expense.

Funding: Most of the local lack money for agricultural investment, thus causing illicit loan with alarming interest rates (5-10% per month). Debt-stricken, farmers send their children to become labors in the city and leave the elder and the babies at home. Though the government has supported several funding program, farmers are still in high debt. They are encouraged to make a loan, but do not trained how to manage and use properly. Some farmers do not have any identity cards, they are not entitled to any village fund provided or loan from the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperative. As a result, loan sharks are inevitable in this area.

Occupation: Most of the villagers live on mono-plantation that relies mainly on marketing system. There is no integrated agricultural activity which focuses on family and community consumption. Their products have low yield due to natural problem such as drought, low quality of soil, no enough water for farming, etc., and faced with the market price fluctuation. The farmers suffer from the income loss and are in debt. Besides, after the harvesting season, the villagers have no job to earn income.

Environment: The community’s agricultural practice depends on chemical substances and mobile plantation which affect natural resources. The misuse of chemical substances impacts on the farmers and the community as a whole because the chemical substances accumulation is so harmful to the land that the local have to move out and the forest area is damaged.  Number of the forest area decrease remarkably, and forest fires occur almost every year. Additionally, the farmers always face with water shortage that affect to their farms. 

Project Goal:

Target communities achieve the self reliance, environmental conservation, and full participation.

Objectives:

• To increase the income through the livestock, integrated agriculture.
• To form two self-help saving groups will be established to build the capacity in group management, and financial management training.
• To effectively conserve surrounding environment  in their communities
• To strengthen community capacity and spirituality To have adequate and safe water for agriculture & drinking

Passing on the Gifts

Large animals: After 3 years, participating families will pass on the first female offspring with the weight and size being the same as the original placement. For biogas, Rice mill, corn grinder machine, farmers will pass on 100%

Knowledge: after the training or study tour, farmers will pass on the knowledge gained to other people in the village.

Funding source: Heifer Project International