Meet the farmers

Isaan’s farmers grow much of Thailand’s rice. They are also dealing with unpredictable rain, worn-out soil and young people leaving for city jobs. Here are three of them.

Four farmers in wide straw hats cutting rice by hand with sickles beneath tall trees
Harvest by sickle, Surin Province
  • After 30 years of farming the old way, Niran changed how his fields hold water. His yields are up and he uses far less of it.

    Niran Jaidee · Roi Et+40% yield, −30% water

  • Somporn left a city job to come home to the family farm. She now leads a cooperative of 25 women selling straight to Bangkok buyers.

    Somporn Thanakit · Khon KaenIncome tripled, 25 families

  • A village elder who teaches young farmers the traditional methods, and is just as keen to try new, climate-smart ones.

    Chai Moonmuang · Ubon Ratchathani12 apprentices trained

View from a sandstone cliff across forest to the Mekong river and the hills of Laos

Stay with a farming family

The Rice Keeper’s Path includes farm stays at planting and harvest. You can also fund a family’s project directly.

Plan a journey See the four loops