Improving Farming Systems for Enhancing Livelihood of Hmong Farmers Project (IFSELH)

Project Number: 22-0510-20

Project duration: 2007-2011

Project Holder: Hmong Association for Development in Thailand (HADT)

HADT was established in 1995 by Hmong leaders, community workers and educators. The main objectives of founding HADT are to promote and support community development, education, sustainable natural resource management, Hmong tribal culture and norm, Self-sufficient Theory , tribal dignity enhancement and sharing resources among poor families. At present, there are 133 members (111 males and 22 females) who annually elect representatives and directors to work on HADT committees.  For 10 years, HADT has received finding from several donor agencies to implement the projects in different focuses of development including health, education, social and culture, and human rights.

The King’s initiative of the middle path approach for development.  The main idea is to support farmers so they maximize the use of local knowledge and resources to become self-sufficient.

Project Profile:

This project will assist Hmong farmers in six villages in Kek Noi sub-district by providing 100 cows, 150 goats, 390 poultry, 45,000 fish fingerlings and 50 ponds, 1,850 seedlings, 1460 kg of seed, 15 bio-gas units and equipments for fruit plantation. The 150 original families and 200 pass-on families will receive technical training addressing livestock management, water monitoring, bio-gas production and agroforestry. Additional training in Heifer Thailand’s values-based holistic community development approach will focus on Heifer Cornerstones, self-help group formation and management, group savings, gender equity and integrated organic farming. 

Project areas: Kek Noi sub-district, Phetchabun province,

Local Conditions & Opportunities for Assistance:

Kek Noi sub-district is a remote community that is located between the boundary of three provinces; Phetchabun, Pittsanulok and Loei. Their Hmong ancestors migrated from northern provinces where the majority of Hmong live. Traditional farming practices were opium plantation, corn, rice and livestock. The communist insurgence from 1965 to 1984 divided the Hmong people into two groups: one group joined the Communist rebels and the other group joined the Thai government.  In 1980, the Thai government developed a Highland Policy for Communism Control that encouraged both groups to permanently settle in Kek Noi.  Land was distributed (45,000 rai) to 57 Hmong families (350 populations). Now, almost 30 years later, the Hmong population is 11,400 and rising.  The rise in population seriously effects the land size for each family. 
The pressure of limited land resources has forced farmers to use harmful farming techniques.  Instead of farmers using land for their own food, many farmers have market-oriented production. For high production the farmers have high chemical use, which have a negative impact on the environment. Now there are chemical residues in the soil and water, which causes more soil erosion and less fertility, as well as unsafe drinking water.

Hmong farmers concentrate on commercial crops like cabbage, ginger, corn and beans. These crops require a lot of chemicals and fertilizers, and therefore need high capital.  Farmers lend money from moneylenders, financial institutions or from neighbors with high interest.  Since many farmers are dependent on cash crops, they are vulnerable to the changing prices in the market.  Consequently many farmers are forced into debt.

Project Goal:

To enhance community’s self-reliance in the north and northeast regions through the animal-based holistic development.

Objectives:

• To increase income through livestock, integrated agriculture and other income generating activities
• To form inclusive self-help groups and implement Values-based Holistic Community Development activities through these SHGs.
• To (SHGs) monitor and evaluate group and individual progress through PSRP every four to six months

 Passing on the Gifts:

The project partners and community groups will use Heifer Thailand’s systems of passing on the gifts. Participating families will pass on a 1:1 ratio for animals and other inputs to farm families.

Each participating family will pass on the first female offspring (1:1 ratio) of equal value to another family. If the first offspring is male, then it will be sold for a female animal for passing on.

Participants will also pass on the skills and knowledge learned from the project to new recipients through group discussion and individual interaction. In addition, other inputs such as seeds will also be passed on.

The project partners agree to pass on funds and animals to other groups or projects at the end of the original project, as directed by Heifer Thailand.  The aim of this is to increase the number of beneficiaries.  The Letter of Agreement (LOA) will be signed between Heifer Thailand and the project partners. This will ensure accountability and the proper use of money.

Funding source:   Heifer Project International