HDX Team 5 - Pasar Rakyat II

Logo Pasar Rakyat Bali

This is page of HDX Team 5 - Pasar Rakyat II. The name of our team is Pasar Rakyat Bahagia.

Our team

• Eddy Gunawan
• Adeva Oktoveri
• Anne Patricia Sutanto
• Ine Inajah
• Lim Tit Meng
• Mandarin Guntur
• R. Sonny Nurgahara
• Dhia Anugrah Febriansa
• Kobsak Pootrakool

Our activities

1. Our team created a WhatsApp chat group on 29 May 2021
2. 30 May 2021, using WhatsApp chat we verified our respective email contacts sent to team leader by HDX Admin and we found mistakes of name tagged to wrong email address
3. 31 May 2021, the team had the first Zoom meeting to agree on some of our roles and responsibilities, and we agreed to set regular weekly Zoom meeting on Monday 8 PM Bali time (GMT+8)
4. After the first meeting to assign some tasks, we were then informed that a member whom we assigned as local contact with Bali Pasar Rakyat was wrongly assigned to our team and he left us to join another team, thus resulting in us without a local contact.
5. 1 June the team used WhatsApp to share a YouTube video about Pasar Rakyat
6. 7 June the Zoom meeting laid down some of the ideas we brainstormed, listing down a long list of stakeholders and possible problems and solutions for us to consider. We also listed the tools we would sue, such as Stakeholders Analysis etc. But we decided we need to do a proper interview with Pak Neoman of Pasar Rakyat in Bali so that we address the pain points accordingly.
7. The team set up a GitHub page for Team Pasar Rakyat Bahagia, our project name, meaning Happy People's Market
8. We tried to upload some files in our GitHub page but we concluded that we needed some tutorial to use the platform properly, so we arranged for a session with Jared which was confirmed for 23 June 2021.
9. We presented our team status to all HDX participants on 19 June 2021 Presentation file
10. . We met over Zoom on 21 June 2021 night and worked out our project timeline and also grouped and classified the interview questions with Pak Neoman of Pasar Rakyat Bali. We also confirmed our meeting with Pak Neoman on 28 June evening via Zoom.
11. . Jared held a tutorial session for our team on GitHub and XLP over Zoom on 23 June evening. We then created XLP TKC after we learned from Jared and now we are using XLP HDX Team5 page instead of GitHub page for our work.
12. We had an interview with Pak Nyoman on 30 June 2021 and we learned about his aspiration and wishes
13. We presented our team progress to all HDX participants on 3rd July 2021 Presentation file
14. Some of the team members had a Zoom meeting on 7 July evening to plan and discuss the presentation content for 10 July project update session with stakeholders. We managed to define the Systems Problem Statement, the Expected outcome, the solutions proposed and how we document and share the knowledge content of the project work to follow the 4-slide presentation requirement. It was a very positive teamwork experience for the 6 of us who took time off our respective busy work schedule to join the Zoom meeting.
15. Using WhatsApp chat the team shared the preparation of the presentation slides for 5PM submission on 9 July 2021. There will be 4 main slides as required with appendix of mock-up ICT solution slides to illustrate our proposed solution.
16. As we learned new tools through the course, we build up the content of our project Team Knowledge Container in our XLP page, which will become our project report and documentation repository.
17. Our team presented to the stakeholders on 10 July 2021 on our Pasar Rakyat Bahagia proposed ICT solution with mock-up page views Presentation file

Introduction

File:Website Pasar Rakyat Bali.png

Screenshot website of Pasar Rakyat Bali

History

Bali is among the hardest hit by the economic impact of the corona virus pandemic in Indonesia. It is well known for its tourism destinations and the tourism sector accounts for around 80 percent of the province’s revenue sources and almost all of its labor force work in the business. Due to global travel restriction there is a significant decrease in the number of visitor. In this case the economic impact is felt not only by hotel owners or resort managers, but also their employees and those working in supply chains of the business, including agricultural sector. Due to falling demand, farmers cannot sell their produce and the harvests are left rotting in the field. In the other side, because of decreasing purchasing power, some people in Bali are starving. Those conditions then will affect food security of Bali’s people. Based on that situation a program called Pasar Rakyat (the Poople's Market) was created in April 2020 to help local farmers and people with no food to eat.

Pasar Rakyat is a social enterprise involving communities in Bali to grow and supply locally produced food so as to bring fresh produce, poultry, fish, and organic essentials from local farmers, fishermen and small businesses to a pick up point in the consumers' neighborhood. Distributed by a traditional distribution network, including local warungs, which are connected to the IT system. Pasar Rakyat is offering quality healthy food products at affordable prices, through a fair trading system. It committs to bringing customers great product at lowest price possible, fair trade practices and by acquiring cross subsidizing donation options to help provide space for the communities to share with those who cannot afford food.

The Founder of Pasar Rakyat, Nyoman Artha, is building a self-reliant agricultural practice community to build resilience in Bali that has been relying heavily on tourism for income which is severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The local communities must learn a new way of sustainability, hence the Pasar Rakyat with model sample farms to start a "green revolution with knowledge management". The project therefore needs to build consensus with the farmers n related community stakeholders.

External Data

• A search for vegetable consumptions in Bali generated some reports that may be useful for Pasar Rakyat reference. Vegetable Consumption Pattern in East Java and Bali (2014)

• The 2014 study showed the relative proportion of vegetable consumed in average households and the data may be of relevance for Pasar Rakyat to do some market demand projection with appropriate extrapolation from 2014 to the present state. The study summarized in a table of data showing kind of vegetables consumed by households in 2014

• The demand for locally produced vegetables is likely to be an upward trend. A 2019 survey shows need for adding more veggies on Indonesian plates

• At the request of Indonesia’s Ministry of National Development Planning, WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with the involvement of a Team of Indonesian University economists and professors estimated food consumption patterns in Indonesia until 2045. The food consumption modelling covers a wide range of analysis of very important and interesting factors particularly those directly related to food consumption and food demands trends. In 2018 the Indonesian government started modeling the future of Indonesia food consumption and the modelling may also generate interesting forecast for Pasar Rakyat operation in demand and supply planning use.

• The comprehensive 2019 report of the 3rd World Irrigation Forum organized in Bali September 2019 about water irrigation practices in food production with respect to the water-energy-food nexus contains useful papers about effective use of water in agriculture practices that can be adopted by Pasar Rakyat farmers. 2019 Report of 3rd World Irrigation Forum organized in Bali

• An interesting post mentioned food prices in Bali in 2019 from a tourist's perspective. This can be of interest to Pasar Rakyat business consideration, especially for differential pricing of food items for locals and tourists. A tourist's blog about prices in Bali 2019

• The pandemic has indeed hit Bali badly as reflected in this article entitled 'Bali's economy struggles' published in ASEAN Today Bali's economy struggles to survive without tourists

Problem statements

File:Pak Nyoman.png

Suma Artha I Nyoman. Pendiri sekaligus Direktur dari Pasar Rakyat Bali.

Analysis of problems after interviewing Pak Nyoman:

After our interview with Pak Nyoman the founder of Pasar Rakyat on 30 June 2021, we learned that he is aiming to build a self-reliant agricultural practice community to grow resilience in Bali that has been relying heavily on tourism for income which is severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The local communities must learn a new way of sustainability, hence the Pasar Rakyat with model sample farms to start a "green revolution with knowledge management". The project therefore needs to build consensus with the farmers n related community stakeholders.

Pak Nyoman wishes to achieve the following:

• To connect the Suppliers (i.e.,) Farmers in terms of production, what to produce, quantity and quality required for production, and the Market segment so as to meet what the markets need, both for quantity and quality demand. This is to build up sustainability in the local supply and demand ecosystem, thus sustainability and resilience of the farming community could be maintained.
• The Pasar Rakyat systems require identifying the Farmers, what products they produce and what the markets expect to be produced, and also understanding the business model to be either B to B or B to C, or even via online business portal, and how to relate and connect the relevant supply chain players.
• Pak Nyoman aspires to build Sample Farms to have/ train model farmers to operate the farm as a training and education center supported by ICT, including digital learning platforms; tools for data collection and data management for stakeholders to update their products (specifying the items, the how many, when they could produce, and price), and also the markets situations (specifying what they need, how much quantity, when do they need, and price indication); and also tools for digital content sharing and learning of Standards Operation Procedures..
• The expected outcome is to make farmers practice sustainable farming methods using fertilizers and pesticides made in the farm organically with lowered cost compared to using chemicals purchased from external suppliers, and hence make the farms produce quality product and also keep the land free from chemical contamination. The Sample Farms serve as exemplary farm operation for other farmers to model after and Pasar Rakyat wants to ensure compliance for quality practice to produce consistent quality food, by using the Sample Farms to create a 'green agriculture revolution' in Bali.

Pak Nyoman's vision/slogan is to "Think Globally, Act locally, Feel totally!"

The System Problem Statement is summarized as follow:

• To: Build a self-reliant agricultural practice community to grow resilience in Bali
• By: Teaching the Farmers, identifying and connecting the Farmers and the Sellers, and make sustainable supply chain system
• Using: Sample Farm supported by relevant ICT tools and also Sustainable Business Management

Analysis

We gathered our understanding through interview with Pak Nyoman, from Pasar Rakyat Bali website, News and TV interview on Pasar Rakyat such as on this website,Social report on Pasar Rakyat, and also video interview with Pak Nyoman such as on APA KABAR BALI?.

We try to use the tools we learned from the Happy Digital X course, including the following:

1. Iceberg Model of Pasar Rakyat
2. Stakeholder Analysis
3. Complex Breakdown Structures (PBS, WBS, OBS)
4. Design Structure Matrix (DSM)
5. Project lifecycle and Vee-model
6. Consensus building

Iceberg Model

File:Iceberg Model of System.png

Iceberg model of system. Thinking in systems allows us to uncover the root cause of out problems, allowing for more fundamental and transformative solutions to be visible.

Event

What is happening?

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Bali, the reliance on tourism for income collapsed. The local community residents started to lose jobs, income and even ability to get enough food since Bali imports most of its food supply from outside Bali.

React

What can be done to deal with it?

To rethink the way of work and the way towards self-reliance and sustainability for food, jobs and security.

Patterns and trends

What can we find if we look over time and space?

Bali is a tourist paradise and the pillar for social wellness is dependent on tourism as the key engine and driver—from hotels, F&B, merchandise, tourist experience and entertainment, spas and lifestyle services, transportation etc, and the local workforce is heavily involved in supporting the tourist industry in Bali. Food supply is mainly from Java and beyond. Farmers do not farm for self-sustainability. Over time, the work skills and competencies are biased towards service-oriented careers but not in agricultural or any intrinsic productivity using local and sustainable resources. It then makes Bali vulnerable if tourists stop visiting and the economy will feel the domino effect of collapsing or disintegrating especially when there is reduced or no more income to support purchase power for food and other essential supplies from outside Bali.

Reframe

What can be done to anticipate it?

To rethink how to construct a more resilient economy and social infrastructure and relevant skills as producers and creators of products and goods instead of being consumers or servicing tourists using goods and products imported to Bali. Thus reducing dependence on outside good will or external economy drivers that dictate Balinese livelihood.

System structure

How are the parts related? What influences the patterns?

With regards to food security and related skills and jobs, the farmers, the logistic support, the markets, the sellers, the customers, the consumers, the demand and supply chain players form inter-related parts and stakeholders influencing one another in the system of Pasar Rakyat.

Redesign

What can be done to prevent it?

The stakeholders should be integrated and come to a consensus to work together to emerge a food security resilience which can create or spin off many jobs and skills independent of tourists’ arrival. Being more self-reliant also help minimise the risk of having to pay high price for imported food when supplies become scarce. Being self-sufficient can also reduce the impact of a pandemic which tend to paralyse the supply and demand chain operation. Generating more proactive type of jobs instead of holding on to tourist-service type of jobs will also help increase household income. With enough food and revenue for each family, Balinese can become more resilient towards happiness.

Stakeholders Analysis

Stakeholder analysis before meeting with Pak Nyoman

Stake Holder	Our output that meet their needs (Kano ranking: C=Critical, I=Important, D=Desirable)	Their output that meet our need (Kano ranking: C, I, D)
Farmers	The demand for their produce will bring revenue to the families (C)	They produce farm products for the market to sell (C)
Villagers	The villagers get alternate food supply and also jobs (C)	The villagers are the customers and beneficiaries (C)
Transport service provider	Generate jobs for drivers and trucks/ vehicles owners (C)	They provide transportation needed between farmers and the market place/ warehouse (C)
Farm venue owner	Farmers can better sustain the lease and use of the farm land (I)	Provide fair and responsible allocation of farm land (I)
Market venue owner/ Owner of People's Market Transaction Site	They may get rental income (C)	They maintain the market as a clean and safe venue (C)
Coordinator for logistics	Generate jobs for the service (D)	Help establish smooth operation model (I)
App / ICT developer and operator	Generate jobs for the service (I)	Help digitalize the market operation and communication (I)
Finance controller/ accounting	Generate jobs for the service (D)	They ensure accountability (I)
Storage/ Packaging service/ Owner of Warehouse	Generate rental income, generate jobs (I)	They provide needed support for post-harvest processing, and also prolong shelf-life for the farm produce, and may reduce wastage with proper storage and packaging support (C)
Marketing Communication/ Publicity	Generate jobs (D)	They ensure awareness and promote branding of the market (I)
Administrator of SOP	Generate jobs (D)	Ensure compliance and support scale up operation (I)
Funders / Sponsors	Provide good will and corporate social responsibility opportunities; and may enhance corporate reputation as a caring enterprise (I)	They benefit the poor and needy with free or heavily subsidized food and help make the market sustainable (C)
Local District / Village government	Provide governance channel regulation for safety and hygienic markets (I)	Ensure compliance of safe management and also environmental issues (I)
People's Market Organization / People's Market Traders Forum	Provide open communication and cooperation/ collaboration (D)	Enhance community ownership and mutual support (I)
Related Office (Local Industry and Trade Office}	Provide official platform for investment and growth of potential business operation to support Bali economy (D)	They may open up new opportunities for market scale up and forge partnership with traders and/ or related industry to value add (D)
Marketplace support (Gojek / Shopee / Delivery etc.)	Provide new service demands (D)	They can expand the reach to customers and enhance online business for the market (D)

Network between stakeholders

To network the stakeholders, it is recommended to establish consensus. Consensus building steps for Pasar Rakyat:

(A) Preparation:

1. Invite stakeholders as listed in the table of stakeholders analysis
2. Get Pak Nyoman to invite local key contacts and representations
3. Build the Table of parties that can make decision and influence
4. Assignment of roles and meeting frequency
5. Brainstorming agenda and ideas

(B) Create Value:

1. Share the vision of Pak Nyoman, and the value of sustainability, revenue increase, welfare, food security, education of good farm practices, post-harvest processing, value add to the farm produce, organic fertilizers, etc
2. Listen to other parties their aspiration or obstacles to overcome
3. Bundle the value options into people skills related, market related, SOP related, community wellness, eco-friendly and sustainability

(C) Distribute value:

1. Sample or Model Farm for training
2. Compilation of education materials/ videos/ manuals etc
3. Data management with ICT and knowledge sharing and distribution
4. Finance and accounting for fairness to all stakeholders
5. Good and regular communication to unite community

(D) Follow through:

1. Regular data collection and sharing with fixed schedule
2. Celebrate successes and share stories
3. Scale up option for farmers

Complex Breakdown Structures

We analyze all the possible components in terms of Functional and formal decomposition of System Pasar Rakyat Bahagia as listed below:

1. Product Breakdown Structure (PBS)

(A) Sample Farms Functional Components

• Training centre for farmers
• Demonstration of skills and know-how
• Development of innovative ideas, curriculum and recipe
• Promotion of sustainability and eco-friendly practices
• Coordination of farm production schedules to meet demand cycles
• Network of farming community for mutual support
• Data collection and management of farmers and farming practices

(B) Learning Management System functional components

• Curriculum for ‘How to be a Good Farmer’
• Instruction manuals
• Recipes and Formulae
• Video demos of ‘How to…’
• Monitoring of learning progress
• Photo galleries
• Testimonies
• Success stories
• Mentoring advice
• Volunteers and help
• Location of Sample Farms and Mentors
• Contact information for Sample Farms and Mentors
• Q&A portal

(C) Supply Chain Management System functional components

• Demand forecast
• Marketing strategy
• Sales order
• Inventory of farm products
• Location of farms
• Capacity of production
• Transportation needs
• Distribution channels
• Schedule of Vehicles & Drivers
• Manage the financing & accounting strategy
• Pricing (product cost & selling price)
• Manage funding
• Manage procurement and supply

2. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

(A) Sample Farms Workflow Components

• Set up Sample Farm
• Identify good farmers
• Appoint Trainers
• Appoint Mentors
• Recruit volunteers
• Develop curriculum and teaching materials
• Write instructions for manuals and recipes
• Make teaching videos
• Curate useful photos into reference gallery
• Maintain website and social media communication
• Training and class schedule
• Monitor farmers progress
• Coordinate farm visits
• Facilitate farmers’ engagement with mentors and volunteers
• Update farmer database
• Curate success stories and testimonies
• Publish Sample Farm activities
• Promote membership

(B) Learning Management System workflow components

• Plan and develop “Be a good farmer” curriculum
• Publish learning materials/recipe / formula for ‘how to make …’
• Make video to demonstrate ‘The way of good farming….’
• Collate and classify useful photos and pictures for teaching use
• Document the success stories
• Interview testimonies
• Monitor progress of each farmer student
• Coordinate contact with mentors / volunteers
• Create a directory and map position/location of the Sample Farms and members’ farms
• Schedule farm study trips

(C) Supply Chain Management System workflow components

• Collect market data for demand forecast
• Implement marketing plan
• Consolidate sales order
• Manage procurement and supply
• Matching farm production quantity and quality supply to target markets demand
• Maintain and update inventory of farm products
• Manage the transportation / distribution support needs
• Deployment of vehicle & drivers
• Manage the financing & accounting strategy
• Market survey for competitive pricing (product cost & selling price)
• Manage funding and sponsorship

3. Organization Breakdown Structure (OBS)

• Founder of Pasar Rakyat
• Farmers
• Farm venue owner
• Market venue owner
• Local government
• Logistic coordinator
• Finance controller
• Funders
• Sponsors
• Marketing promoter
• Packaging service provider
• Storage warehouse owner
• Transport service provider
• Administrator of SOP
• Villagers
• Customers
• Retail business owners
• Project owner
• Website and social media administrator
• Online business developer
• ICT developer for Apps
• Data manager
• Trainers for farming methods
• Mentors to farmers

Design Structure Matrix (DSM)

Using the pairwise analysis of interactions and interdependency of people involved in the Pasar Rakyat ecosystem, we came out with the DSM seeing some clustering patterns that can help us understand the human dynamics in the project.

Project Lifecycle

We define the lifecycle phases of the project as follows:

Stage 1: Exploratory Research

Background research on Pasar Rakyat with Stakeholder interview

Stage 2: Concept ideation

Stakeholder needs analysis and define problem statements to meet Stakeholder’s aspiration

Stage 3: Development of solution

Refine the stakeholders’ needs into Learning through the Sample Farm concept and to develop supply and demand chain management, supported by sustainable operation model

Stage 4: Production of prototype

Create mock up online pages for the Learning Management System and the Supply Chain Management System; seek feedback from stakeholder/users

Stage 5: Deployment and utilization of digital tools

To test user functionality, robustness of operation system to meet users need, to get feedback for further modification

Stage 6: Support system and provision

To establish the technical support and also user support capability to sustain the digital platform utility and future expansion

Stage 7: Retirement or revamp of digital platform

When the platform is no more effective or meaningful because all farmers are well trained and the network of farmers create a sustainable farming community and a self-sustain ecosystem is stabilized. But this may be many years down the road.

Vee-model

vee-model for pasar rakyat bahagia

We use the Vee-model to visualize our ICT project lifecycle for Pasar Rakyat Bahagia as shown here. At different stages of the project development, there will be requirement for feedback communication, verification and validation between the stakeholders, users and the project owner ICT developers.

Solutions

We think there are three aspects to the solutioning process:

1. People skills and mindset--the farmers need to be educated and trained with 'Think Globally, Act Locally, Feel Totally'. The solution is through education.
2. Supply chain management--the systems need to coordinate the supply chain to match farmers to markets, the supply and demand to generate stable income for the farmers and other stakeholders.
3. Logistic and business management-- the ecosystems require good standard operation procedures to scale up the good practice by the Sample Farms and the Pasar Rakyat business, which could be B2B, B2C and also online sales. Proper marketing, packaging, processing, pricing, supported by effective data management, transport and delivery services, inventory and accounting system.

Business solutions

Ada sekitar 400-500 Petani, ada 2 jenis petani 1. Petani yang sudah tidak memiliki modal. 2. Petani yang masih memiliki modal dan berproduksi. Ada sekitar 120 Petani yang diajak dan diajarkan untuk produksi mengunakan pupuk yang dibuat dengan metode pak Nyoman. Bibit, pupuk dan petiside organik diberikan oleh pak Nyoman, hasilnya sama sama produktif dengan biaya yang lebih rendah. Petani dapat membayarkan kembali setelah mendapatkan uang dari hasil pertaniannya. Ada beberapa peternak yang diberikan bibit ternak juga. Pupuk dan petiside dibuat sendiri secara organik dengan teknik yang diajakna oleh pak Nyoman

Hasil dari produk petani dibeli dan didistibusikan kepada enduser, beberapa enduser adalah reseller yang dijual lagi ke restoran dan hotel

ICT solutions

One of the ICT tools for Pasar Rakyat is to survey the farmers in Bali who are to form the Pasar Rakyat community. The survey form designed by Jared Gordon as an example may be used to construct the farmer data base for knowledge management. This collation of farmers, their location, farm size, type of crops, farming schedule and harvest time, etc will be very important for Pasar Rakyat to plan nd schedule planting and harvesting of relevant crops to supply and meet the market demands all year round.

Sample of Farmer information Form (as created by Jared in XLP for Pasar Rakyat)

Education solutions

1. Case Studies from Singapore

Singapore as an island like Bali also aspires to grow and produce food to meet 30% of self-reliance by year 2030. The citizens in Singapore are learning and practicing urban farming with resources such as video instructions. Pasar Rakyat may produce similar videos for the local farmers training use.

{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9YHu-7e6Nc}}

• An introduction to home farming in Singapore

• Video 101 How to compost

• Vermicomposting in Singapore

There are also several commercially operated organic farms that supply fresh produce as well as serve as education provider for farming purposes. They include the following which may be useful reference for Pasar Rakyat:

• VertiVegies

Established in 2015, VertiVegies specialises in vertical farming to harvest fresh and healthy produce every day.

• Bollywood Veggies

From their humble beginnings in 2000, Bollywood Veggies has grown to become one of the oldest and most famous local farms in Singapore. Visitors can enjoy an abundance of activities from guided farm tours, paddy planting, nature art sessions, lessons on sustainable farming, and of course, getting a taste of their freshest produce! Beyond the wide range of fresh fruits and vegetables that they have, they also house a culinary school, museum, and their very own farm-to-table café.

• Sky Green

This high-tech farm is the world’s first low carbon, hydraulic-driven vertical farm with shelves of green plants that stack over 9 metres tall. This outstanding innovation in urban farming has won Sky Greens multiple awards including the Green Technology Award Top Honours at the Singapore Sustainability Awards 2014. Through the use of minimal water, land, and energy, they are able to produce safe, fresh, and nutritious vegetables to minimise waste and save resources.

• ComCrop

As Singapore’s first and only commercial rooftop farming company, the ComCrop team uses marginalised spaces to grow high-quality local produce that is free of pesticides and harmful chemicals. This vertical farm covers more than 6000 square feet and uses 90 percent less water than traditional farming, making it more sustainable for the environment.

• Pacific Agro Farm

Pacific Agro Farm is one of the first urban farming companies in Singapore. This is an urban farm with strong expertise on juicy cherry tomatoes, eggplants, basil, sweet potato leaves, peppermint, turmeric. Beyond their fresh and organic offerings, visitors can also enjoy the fun line-up of hands-on activities like creating your own potting mix using coconut husk shavings and coffee powder and even learning how to make your very own hydroponic set up to take home with you.

2. Case Studies from Thailand

Thailand is currently having almost 20 million people engaging in the agricultural sector. One of the most important problem facing these farmers is that of market demand and sustainable business management. Like in the case of Bali and Pasar Rakyat, Thai farmers produce what they can and then try to sell their products. Often, supply exceeds demand and results in losses for those crops.

"Green revolution with knowledge management" will be key to their long term sustainability. There are lessons from some successful cases studies in Thailand that will be applicable for our Pasar Rakyat project.

Phu Tawan Organic Farm

Suphachai. Owner of Phu Tawan Organic Farm

External links:

Suphachai's Facebook

Article of Phu Tawan Organic Farm

Phu Tawan Farm locates in Ban Nong Mek, Amnat Chareon Province, in the northeastern part of Thailand. At the time of its start, Ban Nong Mek has no electricity and in the upland area with limited surface water.

Suphachai, owner of Phu Tawan Farm, is the leader of farmers in Ban Nong Mek. After his graduation from college in Thailand, he decided to train as a Young Farmer in Israel for 7 years. Once he came back to Thailand, he started his organic farm in Nong Mek, based on the innovative farming techniques he learned from Israel. His original farm area is around 14 acres. He also taught other farmers in the area of those new techniques. And like in the case of Pak Nyoman, he helped collecting those farm outputs from those farmers and selling them to market.

Currently, his group of farmers now collectively has total of 50 acres and weekly output grew from a mere 30 kilograms to 3000 kilograms.

Although Thailand has plenty of lands, Supachai's farming technique is based on "closed-system greenhouse" idea, which help conserving the use of limited water supply which is the main problem of Nong Mek. His previous training in Israel is quite instrumental in overcoming his problem, since Israel faces even more severe water problem than Nong Mek. Also closed-system green house idea helps eliminating the problem of pest and allow these farmers to do organic farming which raise the value added of their products.

Farmers in his group have around 12-20 greenhouses each on their land. Vegetables that they grow include green oak lettuce, red oak lettuce, cos lettuce, butterhead lettuce, frillice ice berg lettuce, Chinese broccoli, spinach, as well as yu choy.

The key success factor of the project.

Supachai says that the key secret to success of his group is that of systematic schedule of farming that meets the demand of the market. He has secured the connection to supply organic vegetables under the brand "Phu Tawan Organic Farm" to Tops Supermarket, one of the leading supermarket chain in Thailand.

Before planting each year, his group will:

1. Calculate the number of existing greenhouses, the number of crops that each of the greenhouse can produce as well as the yield per crop.
2. They will discuss the available farming capacity breaking down into each type of vegetables with the customer - Top Supermarket.
3. Once they reach agreement, they will allocate the order among the members.
4. Members then schedule their production accordingly.

Salad-type vegetables are very popular, following be local-type vegetables. Currently, Phu Tawan Organic Farm products is selling quite well so much so that they could not keep up with market demand. (This is quite remarkable since there are many farmers in Thailand facing difficulty selling their vegetables.)

Each greenhouse is roughly 6x30 meters. Each will grew 4 rows of vegetables and resulting in 6,000 of them at the end. Each crop cycle is around 45-50 days. Farmers usually plant them in the seedbeds for the first 15-20 days before transferring them to greenhouses for the rest of the time which amounts to 30 days each.

To have a regular weekly income, each member needs at least 6 greenhouses. This is so because each vegetable needs 30 days in the greenhouses, and the greenhouses need to rest around 1 week before the next crop. So each greenhouse can produce around 9 crop per year.

Before each crop, farmers need to prepare the soil with organic fertilizer and control the soil acidity. This is done through the usage of compost and dolomite. Dolomite will add calcium, magnesium and silicon to the soil and allow vegetables to absorb fertilizer more effectively. At the same time, it will enhance the function of microorganism, help prevent disease and pest in the greenhouse.

The weekly income for 6 greenhouses will be around 300-500 USD. This translate to around 1,200-2,000 USD/month or 14,400-24,000 USD/year. Since each member have around 12-20 greenhouses, this means that each member can have up to 72,000 USD/year, which is quite satisfactory.

The cost of each crop is around 30 USD per crop. 7 USD is for compost and the rest is for seeds, water, etc.

Supachai concludes that the key to success of modern farmers is not the planting process but "marketing". Demand should determine supply. Before you plant anything, you should sell them first. Once order is in place, you can start with the planting. This is the key lesson he learned from the Israelis during those 7 years.