Sakda Amornwatree, 55, made a bold decision in 1987 to use his family's farmland at Ban Thamakham, Ta Nao Si subdistrict, in Suan Phung, Ratchaburi, to grow multiple crops on 10 rai instead of one or two crops, following His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's sufficiency economy philosophy.
In the decades before, his family had accumulated losses from growing tapioca and corn, and had come to rely heavily on chemicals. After cyclical struggles, his family sold 40 rai of farmland to repay debts.
"I still remember when my father borrowed money from the bank to buy a tractor. That was bad luck because that year the prices of tapioca and corn fell," Mr Sakda said. "My family earned only 80,000 baht from tapioca and corn, but production costs plus the loan interest amounted to more than 100,000 baht. That's why we had to gradually sell off 40 rai of farmland to repay debts."
Mr Sakda learned sufficiency economy farming practices from local officials at the Agricultural Extension Department. He worked to lower production costs by making compost, improving soil quality, making insect repellent from wood vinegar and growing a variety of crops and plants such as betel nut, coconut, durian, mangosteen, longan, avocado, pomelo, sacha peanut, herbs and vegetables.
His family members all work to harvest and sell the produce. On weekends, he and his wife sell produce at the weekend market.
"Farmers cannot survive if they grow only one crop, because products and prices are volatile," Mr Sakda said. "The main production costs are insecticide, seeds and fertiliser."
The sufficiency economy philosophy is meant to improve people's livelihoods. This is based on three major edicts: moderation, reasonableness and immunity to changes.
Sacha peanut is a crop Mr Sakda advises his fellow farmers to grow. photos by CHATRUDEE THEPARAT
Two conditions are essential to achieve a sufficiency economy: knowledge and morality, Mr Sakda said.
The philosophy makes room for varying economic backgrounds and the geo-social conditions of the area. As most Thais in rural areas are farmers, the "New Theory" adapts the sufficiency economy scheme as a guide to self-reliance in securing food and a livelihood.
Mr Sakda encouraged his neighbours to grow sacha peanuts because of their relatively high prices and because there is little waste. All parts of the plant are used -- the shell, seed and leaf can be sold -- generating income for farmers.
There are 15 members of Mr Sakda's sacha peanut farming group, with combined production of 600 kilogrammes a day. The group earns about 6,000 baht per day collectively from selling sacha peanuts.
Mr Sakda said the farming practices of the sufficiency economy may not generate enough income to repurchase the 40 rai of land his family had to sell, but he can save a lot on production costs and has become self-reliant.
He plans to open a learning centre on sufficiency economy methods on Oct 31 at his farm.
"I am ready to advise everyone who wants to learn sufficiency economy methods," he said.
Mr Sakda insists that the sufficiency economy is not just an ideology or vague philosophy: "I believe all farmers in Thailand who learn sufficiency economy methods can survive. I only finished high school, but I own a small business."