Mr. Sutthi Thamprasoerth, 62 years old, a local man who had been engaged in agriculture since he was 7 years old, initially growing rice before he started organic farming on the community's land at the age of 20. He grew chilies and later expanded his income with seasonal mixed crops in a rotational farming system together with his wife.
He is known in the community as an experimenter in agriculture and an initiator who enjoys exploring new areas of agriculture and sharing his successes with the community. He is also praised by the community for his quality and attention to detail in every step of the growing process.
Since 2023, he has been recording daily temperatures and rainfall during drought and monsoon seasons to understand changes in weather conditions and agricultural preparations.
What has climate change done here?
This year, with the extreme heat of 43 degrees Celsius in the dry season, I cannot go out of the house or work on the farm during the day. Even when I was in the shade, it was still hot, and turning on a fan did not help to alleviate the heat, there was just a hot wind blowing. I can only work in the early morning until 9 am and then later in the evening.
The seedlings I planted did not germinate at all. Only 2 out of 10 plants that have grown in the fields can somehow survive and still produce some yield. Onions and eggplants, for example, can survive, but the production does not reach its full growth, resulting in a loss of income.
When the rainy season arrives, it rains heavily for 4-5 days in a row. According to the daily rainfall scale, the rain reaches up to 90-100 millimeters, more than the average maximum of 60 millimeters in previous years. With so much water in the soil, the vegetables are damaged or disturbed in their growth. Also, because of the sandy soil on my land and the heavy rains, the water can easily run through and flood the roots of the plants more easily than on other people's land. All this forces my papaya trees to collapse.
However, the obstacles and aging will not stop him and his partner Mrs. Chom from farming. Together with community members, they have found effective methods to increase their crop production amid the weather turbulence. Since 2021, they have slowly transitioned to smart farming innovation: The farming tables to raise the plantation off the ground and plastic sheets as a roof to prevent boiling heat and flooding. This is also friendly for elderly' physical health in farming practice.
What do you think world leaders have to do now to stop things from getting worse and to help us adapt?
In times of climate change, I would like to see more support for farming tables and as an inspiration for farmers, especially for those in the community who do not yet have one. More so, with support for organic farming, more people need to move away from the use of chemicals in agriculture and reduce the pollution released by big industry.
I may be getting old and my strength may be waning, but I feel young at heart and full of encouragement. I still see the world as beautiful and I am still happy that I work and earn money. I have faced many hardships in my life and I will not give up, not even because of climate change.
Life expectancy 2023
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