Friday, 21 March 2008

SIFE at work in the community

Pun Pun looks at the vegetables at the school

Team work

The Asian University SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) team is continuing their success in between their academic studies.

Khun Pa talks to Dr Pongchan

Mushroom spore with compost

Last year they were finalists in the SIFE competition in Bangkok with their organic agriculture project, to improve the finance of farmers by the production, sale and use of wood vinegar, a by-product of charcoal burning.

This year, the team has set up three sub-projects:

1 Encourage organic agriculture with the aim of raising awareness and reducing chemical use;

Ninja with an eel!!

Continue the work on the wood vinegar bank and

Improve their relationship with the local people in the area where they are working (in Pachi district near Ayuthia) by talking with the young people. The students find it easier to pass on their messages to other young people, rather than the older farmers many of whom are set in their ways.

They have been helped and encouraged by Khun Boonsong (Khun Pa) a BAAC manager who has been promoting organic farming in the area for some time. As a bank manager he has the respect of the local people and has been very supportive of the Asian University students and their SIFE project. The students are planning a Fair in Pachi in mid May, where they can display information about their project, and encourage more local farmers to benefit by going organic and getting involved.

The photos show the students in Pachi with some of the local people.

All this work makes the team hungry and tired!

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