SUFFiciENcy EcONOMy ANd GRASSROOtS DEvElOPMENt

202
The Meaning of Sufficiency Economy
International Conference
As mentioned in the Inpaeng’s mission, food security, achieved by the forestlike
plantation, is one of the most critical issues of the network. This study found
several indicators required to build up the food security of a household. First of all,
the procession of land is very important. On average, each Thai small scale farmer
has 3 Rai (4,800 square metres) for the plantation (ไทยโพสต์ 2551). A lesson learned
from the past indicated that it is not the amount, but the usage of the land that
contributed to the “Survival”. Before adopting the Inpaeng concepts, many families
expanded their land for cash crop plantations by mean of deforestation. They found
that the more land one processed the more expenses were needed for every process
of cash crop plantations from the beginning to the harvest. This did not always mean
more profit. Besides, the adverse effects of deforestation cannot be underestimated.
They witnessed extreme climate changes which had started from previous decades,
less or delayed rain, more pests and drier soil. Theoretically, Inpaeng’s members
allocated their land into cash crop areas, fishery pond areas, chicken coop or pig pen
areas and forest-like plantation areas. Having various kinds of food to consume is
the second indicator of food security. Local food is regarded as better food than the
“idiot food” (Thai: อาหารปัญญาอ่อน) (market, industrialized, preservative added foods).
According to the concept of traditional health, the best food that fit one’s physical
needs can be gathered around the area where one was born (Thai: เกิดที่ไหน กินที่นั่น).
In his back to the roots journey, Seri Pongphit found that local river fish,
local vegetables and Namwha bananas are “his” food (Thai: กินปลาเป็นหลัก กินผักเป็นยา
กล้วยน้ำว้าบำรุงกำลัง).
Local foods around the Phuphan mountain range are innumerable; they range
from local vegetables, several kinds of bamboo shoots and mushrooms to animals
such as feral pigs and several species of insects. These local species plantations,
some vegetables, mushrooms, insects can be harvested only at a specific time of the
year. Local species plants requires less care compared to cash crops. The plants grow
and survive with little or no chemical intervention (such as pesticides and
herbicides). Therefore, consumers are less exposed to chemical agents. This idea of
consuming organic products, or “clean food” in their words, very much concerns the
rural people. Many Inpaeng members regard the availability of clean food as the
main factor contributing to longevity.
“In the generations of our great grandfather, people died because of old
age. We hardly heard that great grannies suffered from diseases like diabetes
or cancer. But look at our generation, people are suffering from diabetes and
many of them died from cancer, I think that was because we have been
exposed to chemical fertiliser, pesticide and herbicide too much. There was
no chemical usage in previous generations. We are not only exposed to those
chemicals as users, but we also eat them via market food and even food from
our farms.”
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