press release Chevron Continues "A Journey Inspired by the King" for a Fifth Consecutive Year in Udon Thani
Udon Thani – 16 October 2017 –Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production Ltd., in collaboration with the Institute of Sufficiency Economy, Agri-Nature Foundation and King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), organized this year’s third round of harmony-building activities under the “Power of Human Energy: A Journey Inspired by the King” project, which is now in its fifth year. The activity is held on both the land owned by Sawaeng Sithammabut, a farmer in Ban Na Riang and a member of the project’s affiliated network in the Chi river basin, who successfully transformed a dry, barren plot of land into a fertile green area by following the King’s philosophy, and on the compound of Na Riang Christian Network in Si That District, Udon Thani province. The activities are designed to apply the knowledge and theories of the late King Bhumibol into practice while also implementing factors that made the project successful in the Pa Sak River and other basins to drive sustainable solutions for drought and flood problems.
Pairoj Kaweeyanun, Chevron Thailand president, said, “From our beginnings in the Pasak river basin, today, with the collaboration of all relevant parties, we have replicated the solutions for nearly every river basin in Thailand. The project, which proceeds under the theme of nationwide expansion, is applying the ‘Kokenongna’ water catchment model in four different areas this year. The first model serves a learning center for urban farming at a demonstration farm at the Faculty of Agricultural Technology, KMITL, and represents the Central Region. The second model is in Ratchaburi province and represents the Western Region, offering an example of success stories in the Klong river basin that has grown from 16 to 30. The third model is set to be built today in Udon Thani along the Chi river basin and represents the Northeastern Region. The last model will be constructed in Chiang Mai, representing the Northern Region. All four models will serve as examples of successful water management in different problem areas and provide concrete proof that the King’s philosophy can truly solve these problems and pave the way towards the path of sustainable living and self-reliance.”
“On this fifth anniversary of our project, we are bringing the harmony-building activities (locally referred to as Long Khaek) to unite the whole network,” added Dr. Wiwat Salyakamthorn, Chairman of the Institute of Sufficiency Economy and the Agri-Nature Foundation. “The event encourages knowledge-sharing on land and water development in different geosocial areas based on the King’s philosophy. The implementation is in line with the key theme of nationwide expansion. The harmony-building activities in Udon Thani represent the expansion of the project that was first initiated in the Pa Sak river basin before extending to the Chi river basin. The two-part activities include planting marigolds on the land owned by Sawaeng in the shape of the Thai numeral nine (๙) as a special tribute to the late King Bhumibol, the father of all Thai farmers, planting crops using the ‘3 Forests, 4 Benefits’ principle, as well as building weirs and repairing barriers near Pracha Rat Canal in the Na Riang Christian Network Group’s area, which were damaged by a severe thunderstorm.”
Asst. Prof. Pichate Sowittayasakun, Dean of Faculty of Architecture, KMITL, a key partner in the academic sector that helped design models in many of the project areas, said, “The Faculty of Architecture, KMITL, participates in this project by providing consultations and sustainable farm design techniques to network members and members of the public interested in the late King’s ‘Kokenongna’ model. The model, which takes into account size, geography, climate, soil condition, as well as demand and financial capacity, has been widely accepted and is regarded as the most practicable strategy for all. The objective is to enable the storage of 100% of rainfall. In addition, KMITL is also furthering the research project “Thai Geosocial Design: Monitoring and Evaluation for Participative Community Water Management” under the Integrated Technology Operation KMITL (ITOKmitl). Sponsored by Chevron since October last year, this project aims to collect systematic data, meeting quality academic standards, in three different areas, namely Lampang, Udon Thani, and Tak. The total area for data collection covers 300 rai and Ban Na Riang in Udon Thani is one of the target areas. Through this, the project has showcased soil and water sample collection methods, weather monitoring, and aerial photography, to indicate that the project has collected both qualitative and quantitative data that cover all relevant aspects. This will help prove the success of the theory of resource management initiated by the late King Bhumibol in rectifying all aspects of the issues faced.”
Sawaeng Sithammabut, a member of the project’s affiliated network in Chi river basin and a farmer, has turned dry, barren land into rich agricultural farmland, earning him the nickname “Uncle Sawaeng the Rich (in Happiness) of the Pao River”, a major branch of the Chi river. “I had lost hope in my land,” said Sawaeng. “It was all rocks and gravel and nothing could grow there. Some people even mocked me, saying if I could grow something on my land, Thailand wouldn’t be poor. I once put my land up for sale but no one was interested in buying it. Quite by chance, I attended a training course focusing on the King’s philosophy at Map Ueang Agri-Nature Center. When I came home, I was so eager to put the theory into practice that I couldn’t sleep. I was up at four in the morning and dug the soil with my bare hands because it was too hard to use a hoe. I heard that someone wanted the soil for road construction and I gave it to them for free. In return, they helped me build nine wells on my land. I didn’t know how to collect water in the past. When it rained, I just watched the runoff flow away and disappear within 30 minutes, unable to do anything. Then, I started to use the King’s philosophy. It took just a year and a half for the soil, once too infertile and hard for anything to grow in it, to become richer. Vegetables and fruit trees could grow. There were fish in the wells. I even grew strawberries in April. More importantly, I got my family back together. My son came home, along with his wife. Our family is complete once again. I’m planning to make this place an agricultural development learning center in the future so I can share knowledge with those who are interested.”
The harmony-building activities have attracted more than 300 people from all over the country, including the the Church of Christ in Thailand, Thamturakit Natural Farming Network, Agri-Nature Youth, lecturers from KMITL’s Faculty of Agricultural Technology, the project’s affiliated networks in Pa Sak river basin and Mae Klong river basin, the Space Design Training Group, KMITL’s Faculty of Architecture (batch one), Ratchada Children’s Group at Lahan Sai Ratchadaphisek School, Buri Ram province, the Youth Group from Ban Pong Ket School, Saraburi province, lecturers and students from Udon Thani Rajabhat University’s Faculty of Management Science, Agri-Nature Network, and interested individuals who signed up from the project’s official Facebook page.
The “Power of Human Energy: A Journey Inspired by the King” Year 5 will push ahead to put the King’s philosophy and local wisdom into practice through the “harmony-building” activities in another area. The next activities will be held on November 4-5, 2017 at Wat Borommathat Doi Pha Som, Yang Moen Sub-district, Samoeng District, Chiang Mai province, which is a successful model of temple and school development (Bawon), a royal initiative of the late King Bhumibol. For more information and updates on the activities, please visit www.facebook.com/ajourneyinspiredbytheking
Pairoj Kaweeyanun, Chevron Thailand president, said, “From our beginnings in the Pasak river basin, today, with the collaboration of all relevant parties, we have replicated the solutions for nearly every river basin in Thailand. The project, which proceeds under the theme of nationwide expansion, is applying the ‘Kokenongna’ water catchment model in four different areas this year. The first model serves a learning center for urban farming at a demonstration farm at the Faculty of Agricultural Technology, KMITL, and represents the Central Region. The second model is in Ratchaburi province and represents the Western Region, offering an example of success stories in the Klong river basin that has grown from 16 to 30. The third model is set to be built today in Udon Thani along the Chi river basin and represents the Northeastern Region. The last model will be constructed in Chiang Mai, representing the Northern Region. All four models will serve as examples of successful water management in different problem areas and provide concrete proof that the King’s philosophy can truly solve these problems and pave the way towards the path of sustainable living and self-reliance.”
“On this fifth anniversary of our project, we are bringing the harmony-building activities (locally referred to as Long Khaek) to unite the whole network,” added Dr. Wiwat Salyakamthorn, Chairman of the Institute of Sufficiency Economy and the Agri-Nature Foundation. “The event encourages knowledge-sharing on land and water development in different geosocial areas based on the King’s philosophy. The implementation is in line with the key theme of nationwide expansion. The harmony-building activities in Udon Thani represent the expansion of the project that was first initiated in the Pa Sak river basin before extending to the Chi river basin. The two-part activities include planting marigolds on the land owned by Sawaeng in the shape of the Thai numeral nine (๙) as a special tribute to the late King Bhumibol, the father of all Thai farmers, planting crops using the ‘3 Forests, 4 Benefits’ principle, as well as building weirs and repairing barriers near Pracha Rat Canal in the Na Riang Christian Network Group’s area, which were damaged by a severe thunderstorm.”
Asst. Prof. Pichate Sowittayasakun, Dean of Faculty of Architecture, KMITL, a key partner in the academic sector that helped design models in many of the project areas, said, “The Faculty of Architecture, KMITL, participates in this project by providing consultations and sustainable farm design techniques to network members and members of the public interested in the late King’s ‘Kokenongna’ model. The model, which takes into account size, geography, climate, soil condition, as well as demand and financial capacity, has been widely accepted and is regarded as the most practicable strategy for all. The objective is to enable the storage of 100% of rainfall. In addition, KMITL is also furthering the research project “Thai Geosocial Design: Monitoring and Evaluation for Participative Community Water Management” under the Integrated Technology Operation KMITL (ITOKmitl). Sponsored by Chevron since October last year, this project aims to collect systematic data, meeting quality academic standards, in three different areas, namely Lampang, Udon Thani, and Tak. The total area for data collection covers 300 rai and Ban Na Riang in Udon Thani is one of the target areas. Through this, the project has showcased soil and water sample collection methods, weather monitoring, and aerial photography, to indicate that the project has collected both qualitative and quantitative data that cover all relevant aspects. This will help prove the success of the theory of resource management initiated by the late King Bhumibol in rectifying all aspects of the issues faced.”
Sawaeng Sithammabut, a member of the project’s affiliated network in Chi river basin and a farmer, has turned dry, barren land into rich agricultural farmland, earning him the nickname “Uncle Sawaeng the Rich (in Happiness) of the Pao River”, a major branch of the Chi river. “I had lost hope in my land,” said Sawaeng. “It was all rocks and gravel and nothing could grow there. Some people even mocked me, saying if I could grow something on my land, Thailand wouldn’t be poor. I once put my land up for sale but no one was interested in buying it. Quite by chance, I attended a training course focusing on the King’s philosophy at Map Ueang Agri-Nature Center. When I came home, I was so eager to put the theory into practice that I couldn’t sleep. I was up at four in the morning and dug the soil with my bare hands because it was too hard to use a hoe. I heard that someone wanted the soil for road construction and I gave it to them for free. In return, they helped me build nine wells on my land. I didn’t know how to collect water in the past. When it rained, I just watched the runoff flow away and disappear within 30 minutes, unable to do anything. Then, I started to use the King’s philosophy. It took just a year and a half for the soil, once too infertile and hard for anything to grow in it, to become richer. Vegetables and fruit trees could grow. There were fish in the wells. I even grew strawberries in April. More importantly, I got my family back together. My son came home, along with his wife. Our family is complete once again. I’m planning to make this place an agricultural development learning center in the future so I can share knowledge with those who are interested.”
The harmony-building activities have attracted more than 300 people from all over the country, including the the Church of Christ in Thailand, Thamturakit Natural Farming Network, Agri-Nature Youth, lecturers from KMITL’s Faculty of Agricultural Technology, the project’s affiliated networks in Pa Sak river basin and Mae Klong river basin, the Space Design Training Group, KMITL’s Faculty of Architecture (batch one), Ratchada Children’s Group at Lahan Sai Ratchadaphisek School, Buri Ram province, the Youth Group from Ban Pong Ket School, Saraburi province, lecturers and students from Udon Thani Rajabhat University’s Faculty of Management Science, Agri-Nature Network, and interested individuals who signed up from the project’s official Facebook page.
The “Power of Human Energy: A Journey Inspired by the King” Year 5 will push ahead to put the King’s philosophy and local wisdom into practice through the “harmony-building” activities in another area. The next activities will be held on November 4-5, 2017 at Wat Borommathat Doi Pha Som, Yang Moen Sub-district, Samoeng District, Chiang Mai province, which is a successful model of temple and school development (Bawon), a royal initiative of the late King Bhumibol. For more information and updates on the activities, please visit www.facebook.com/ajourneyinspiredbytheking
