Building Resilience through Food Security“[T]he strengthening of our economic foundation [should begin] by assuring that the majority ofour population has enough to live on… Once reasonable progress has been achieved, we should then embark
on the next steps...”His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great
Thailand is world-renowned for her flavorful culinary delights with dishes like Pad Thai and Tom
Yum Kung born out of a unique gastronomic history, maintained by the ingenuity of Thais to evolve
their dishes in celebration of their culture. But all of this is only possible because of one simple fact – Thailand
enjoys an abundance and diversity of agricultural produce.

Sufficiency Economy Philosophy
Source: Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA)
From the steep stepped farmlands of the North to the rain-soaked terrain of the South, agricultural
best practices well-suited to each of the country’s topographical feature provide a steady stream offresh produce that has been woven into the rich tapestry of Thai cuisine. What might be a lesser-known fact
is that the country owes much of her agricultural success to the lifelong dedication of His Majesty King
Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, in fostering resiliency through advancing food security for the Thai people.
King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua has taken the concept further, by ensuring that
Thais nationwide continue to enjoy food security through scalable best practices in agriculture.
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great initiated more than 4,000 development projects forthe betterment of the Thai people’s livelihoods, all of which were based firmly in his philosophy of Sufficiency
Economy, which advances fundamental principles of Thai culture deeply rooted in Buddhist precepts.
The philosophy espouses development in all aspects based on moderation, prudence and self-immunity.
It emphasizes living within one’s means and with limited resources, thereby decreasing dependence on
externalities and susceptibility to market volatility while increasing one’s control over the means of production
and output.

The New Theory Agriculture
Source: Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA)

Development by steps according to the new theory
Source: Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA)

At the time of the Philosophy’s conception, Thailand was still an agrarian country but one poised forsignificant economic development. His Majesty the late King had the foresight and vision thatsuch development could not and should not leave anyone behind. This compassion was then engendered
the New Theory, under which the essential principles of the philosophy of sufficiency economy are applied toagriculture. Given the historical context, food security at the individual and the household levels would cometo underpin more stable economic growth by lessening the risk of external shocks at the grassroots level.
By reaching the furthest first, the New Theory is one of the most concrete examples of the application of
the philosophy of Sufficiency Economy as it seeks to foster balanced and sustainable living throughthe management of land and water conservation, especially for those whose livelihoods were particularly
susceptible to impacts of economic crises and natural disasters. This, in turn, allows farmers and small-scaleland owners to holistically manage their lands while living harmoniously with nature and within society as
they can rely on locally sourced produce for sustenance, even in the face of economic hardship.

The New Theory Farming Practice
Source: Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA)
Staying true to His Majesty’s Oath of Accession to “continue, preserve and build upon the royallegacy”, the Khok Nong Na Model expands on the New Theory to maximize both land use and water
retention, both on the surface and underground, for agricultural production. The concept essentially calls forthe building of a small weir on a plot of land that acts as a reservoir to prevent flooding during rainy season
but also retains and acts as a source of water during dry season, both of which have been exacerbated by
the adverse effects of climate change.

The key principle of the Khok Nong Na Model is to store sufficient water focused in three mainareas: mound, marsh, and rice field.
Source: Surin Provincial Agriculture and Cooperatives Office website“Khok Nong Na” is an amalgamation of three Thai words that encapsulate key elements ofthe eponymous concept. First, a small ridge (Khok) is built of soil obtained through swamp digging orother substrate rich in nutrients suitable for growing fruit plants and trees, capable of withstanding localconditions, to generate food and household income. The next important element is a weir (Nong) that runs
the length of the plot of land with sufficient depth to store water for agricultural use all year round
while providing moisture through the breadth of the land. The last key element is the rice paddy (Na)on which organic rice farming should be practiced with the aim of restoring essential nutrients to the soil
so that yields are pesticide-free and safe for human consumption. The overall objective of the Khok Nong Na
Model is to ensure food and financial security from the smallest units within society by becoming
self-dependent while minimizing susceptibility to externalities. This will in turn translate into food system
resilience for the country.
The success of the model is now being scaled up throughout the country by various agencies including
the Foreign Ministry’s Thailand International Cooperation Agency and the Community Development
Department. Pilot projects and vocational programmes designed to acquaint those keen to explore
the application of the Khok Nong Na Model of their own volition, have been implemented nationwide.
The Community Lab Model aims to offer a better quality of life through the upskilling and reskilling ofrecent graduates, whose prospective jobs COVID-19 has taken away, in 330 districts with over
3,300 participants. Similarly, the Household Lab Model has been converting plots of land belonging toalmost 6,000 model farmers in more than 300 districts countrywide into Khok Nong Na model lands.
Building upon his father’s legacy, His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua has
guided the Thai people to put into practical application the Khok Nong Na model of agricultural practices toensure that food system resilience remains one of Thailand’s crowning achievements in the years to come.

Overview of “Khok Nong Na Model”
Source: Narathiwat Science Center for education* * * * *Dr. Wiwat Salyakamthorn became well known from decades of training farmers on the application ofSufficiency Economy Philosophy to the agricultural sector to promote sustainable productivity andlivelihoods. He has experience working at the Office of the Royal Development Projects Board andin experimenting with the development concept on his own family’s farm in Chon Buri, with great success.
He is also a former Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives and the Founder of the Agri-Nature Foundation
which runs community workshops at his farm. In addition, he holds other prominent positions,
including President of the World Soil Association, and President of the Institute of Sufficiency Economy.