Nantha Maicharoen, 20, is proud of her achievements as a successful young farmer.

She is among a group of farmers from across the country who will receive awards to recognise their outstanding professional achievements to mark the Royal Ploughing Ceremony on Thursday.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn will preside over the ceremony and present the awards.

Born in a village in Chachoengsao’s Bang Nam Prieo, Ms Nantha has been absorbed in the farmer’s way of life since she was an infant.

“As far back as I can remember, I have spent my life on a farm,” she said.

Ms Nantha was brought up by her grandparents after her father died in an accident and her mother remarried when she was a one-year old.

Rice farming has been a way of life for her family for generations, she said.

Her family, including her grandparents and her aunt, live and work on a 35-rai plot of land.

Ms Nantha said she was selected as a young outstanding farmer for using her knowledge of accounting, management and planning to reduce risks and ensure her family had more stable earnings from farming.

She has been recognised for optimising the use of land and extolling the principles of His Majesty the King’s sufficiency economy philosophy.

Ms Nantha said she supports integrated farming and has divided her plot into different areas for growing rice and raising fish and shrimp.

She also grows a diverse range of crops and vegetables for both her family’s consumption and for sale, enabling her to earn a sufficient income year-round.

Ms Nantha said she makes money from selling rice twice a year and earns money from selling fish and shrimp every three to four months. She also sells lemongrass and galangal on a monthly basis.

The young farmer earns between 800 and 1,000 baht a day from selling vegetables, particularly basil and bottle gourds, which are in demand and fetch high prices during the dry season.

Ms Nantha wants to practise organic and biodynamic farming methods on a large scale in the future and plans to stop using chemicals on her farm.

In the current economic environment it is key for farmers to develop their management, accounting and planning skills, she said.

“I want Thai people to turn to a more modern concept of farming. It is a career that can sustain the whole nation,” she said.

“We should be proud of it. It is an independent career and we can be our own masters.”

News item Courtesy of www.bangkokpost.com