Fairagora Asia, in collaboration with the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Agriculture Office and TPK Advance Starch, recently held a targeted capacity-building program to support cassava farmers in transitioning toward regenerative agriculture in Thailand. The activity took place in Nakhon Ratchasima, known as the heart of the country’s tapioca production, bringing together cassava farmers, local authorities, and industry partners to strengthen more sustainable cassava farming practices. The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to work more closely with farmers in key production areas where changes in soil quality and input use are becoming more visible.
The program focused on practical knowledge that farmers can apply directly in their fields. It began with an opening session where representatives from the project, local authorities, and private sector partners shared their views on working together to support long-term agricultural sustainability and farmer livelihoods. The participation from both public and private sectors reflected a shared effort to improve cassava production in the region, particularly through approaches that are realistic for farmers to adopt over time.
During the training, experts introduced farmers to key concepts of regenerative agriculture, with a focus on improving soil health and reducing the use of chemical inputs. Discussions covered organic fertilizers, soil improvement techniques, and ways to maintain soil fertility over time. Farmers also discussed practices such as cover cropping and crop rotation, as well as the use of biochar made from cassava residues and biological inputs like PGPR. Soil analysis was also emphasized as a way to guide fertilizer use based on actual soil conditions, helping farmers make more informed decisions while improving yields. Questions from farmers during the session focused on how to apply these practices step by step, especially in fields where soil conditions vary.
The sessions also covered climate-smart agriculture, including water management and selecting cassava varieties suited to different soil conditions. There was also discussion around integrating trees into farming systems to support carbon storage, along with topics such as community engagement and labor practices. Farmers took part actively throughout the sessions, sharing their own experiences and discussing how these approaches could work in their local context. These exchanges helped connect the training content to actual field conditions
In addition to the training, participating farmers received farming inputs such as cassava planting materials, fertilizers, and essential equipment. This support helps farmers begin applying some of the practices discussed during the sessions, particularly in the next planting cycle.
This collaboration reflects Fairagora Asia’s ongoing work to support more resilient and sustainable agriculture in Southeast Asia. By working closely with local authorities and upstream cassava buyers, Fairagora Asia continues to link sustainability goals with practical action on the ground. As demand for responsibly produced agricultural products continues to grow, initiatives like this contribute to strengthening Thailand’s cassava sector and its transition toward regenerative agriculture.
