Self-sufficiency has been a buzz-word in Thailand for several years now, popularized by HM the King's promotion of his ideas on the subject. At least one farm in Phana is run along lines advocated by His Majesty. The Model Agriculture Centre just outside Ban Pathum Kaew in Tambon Phra Lao is a further example and it sets out to give assistance to local farmers who wish to pursue a more sustainable way of working. To this end they have gathererd a collection of livestock and are advising farmers on the selection, care and breeding of livestock. In at least one case, they are providing breeding samples, and it is likely that they are doing so, or plan to, in every case.
For purely sentimental reasons, my favourites are these most recent additions. The one on the right was heavily pregnant when I last visited about a month ago, so I will be making another visit soon to see whether she has foaled. Ponies such as these used to be used quite a lot in this part of the country. My father-in-law, for instance, was a school inspector/advisor for several years in the 1950s and travelled from school to school on just such a pony. There are still quite a few specimens in Champassak Province in southern Lao and last year I saw a monk riding one in neighbouring Ubon Ratchathani Province. These two were purchased by Tetsaban Phra Lao from the market in Warin Chamrap.
You might wonder what this specimen has to look so smug about ...
... and now you know.
He doesn't seem destined for the pot but a long and happy life doing what I'm sure he does best.
This fine specimen of brahmin cattle is in fine condition and also looks proud of himself, I'd say.
And what is that about sauce for the gander also being sauce for the goose? One of these doesn't look so sure.
Now when I first saw these enclosures I jumped to the conclusion that some little vegetables were being grown behind the protection of the fine-mesh netting, safe from the prying beaks of marauding birds. I may have been partly right about the need for the netting, but very wrong about the vegetables. What is under here is pure protein!
See what I mean? Unfortunately the photo doesn't do justice to what I saw in the enclosures: hundreds of frogs like this one. They all hopped for cover under the lotus leaves in the pools as soon as I approached, and taking pictures through the netting proved pretty unsuccessful anyway. But what happens to these frogs is a good example of the sustainable agriculture idea. Farmers are shown how to prevent them from hopping away and falling prey to predators by building secure enclosures, and also how to provide a suitable environment and food for them to grow well and keep breeding. They are also shown when to cull the population and to what extent, and hey presto! Suddenly there are lots more frogs in the market for the frog-hungry residents of Phana. And nobody has to wade through ponds and flooded paddy fields to catch them.
Lawrence, the Model Agriculture Centre is an excellent idea and the frog farm really does show its worth. More frogs in the market and not so much wading about in ponds and reeds at night. I bet the torch and battery stockists aren't too happy about it though.
I've never seen a pony in Thailand, that's something I must look into sometime.
Posted by: Martyn | 22 March 2011 at 01:19 PM
Hi Martyn. It is a great idea, though apparently I have got its name a bit wrong. We went there again yesterday so you'll see an update on the livestock quite soon. The frogs are about to start breeding, for one thing (though the two I saw didn't seem to have much energy or enthusiasm for the idea. Perhaps I got there too late.)
Posted by: Lawrence | 22 March 2011 at 07:23 PM