The Bang Rakam Model project, now in its seventh year, has garnered resounding success in its mission to provide farmers with a reliable water supply, enabling them to cultivate crops and significantly enhance their income. This groundbreaking initiative has not only revolutionized the agricultural landscape but has also alleviated the perennial water-related challenges faced by farmers in the low-lying regions of Sukhothai and Phitsanulok.
By adopting an innovative approach, the project has effectively shifted the rice growing season to an earlier timeframe, ensuring that farmers can commence their cultivation activities without fear of destructive floods during the rainy season. Through meticulous water allocation strategies, an impressive expanse of 260,000 rai in the targeted areas has been granted access to this vital resource, mitigating the detrimental effects of flooding and empowering the farming communities.
In the Kongkrailat district, farmers now receive water at the onset of each agricultural year, thanks to the remarkable success of the Bang Rakam Model project. This timely water provision has enabled them to embrace new avenues of revenue generation. The purchase of a cutting-edge straw baler has emerged as a game-changer, allowing farmers to efficiently compress rice straw into compact bale blocks that can be readily sold. This visionary endeavor serves a dual purpose, curbing the prevalent practice of burning rice straw and consequently reducing the hazardous PM2.5 dust particles that pose a significant threat to public health. Moreover, this eco-friendly initiative has injected millions of baht into the local economy, fostering a vibrant cash flow for the farmers.
Additionally, the project has facilitated an exponential increase in watermelon yields. With an impressive total of approximately 80 tonnes, these succulent fruits are now harvested in abundance. Acting as intermediaries, enterprising individuals purchase the watermelons in bulk at a rate of 10 baht per kilogram from the farmers, who, in turn, sell them to end consumers at a retail price of 15 baht per kilogram. This mutually beneficial arrangement has not only bolstered the farmers’ financial prospects but has also satisfied the growing consumer demand for high-quality watermelons.
The remarkable achievements of the Bang Rakam Model project have not gone unnoticed by farmers in other regions. Witnessing the transformative impact of this innovative water management model, agricultural communities across the nation are now earnestly calling upon the Royal Irrigation Department to expand the implementation area. Inspired by the success stories emerging from Sukhothai and Phitsanulok, these farmers are eagerly awaiting the extension of this revolutionary initiative to their own struggling localities, which would undoubtedly revolutionize their lives and ensure the prosperity of future generations.
The Bang Rakam Model project stands as a testament to the remarkable possibilities that can be achieved through forward-thinking approaches to water management. As it continues to empower farmers, uplift communities, and generate economic growth, the project has effectively become a beacon of hope for agricultural development in Thailand.
