Keep soil alive, protect ​soil biodiversity

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Keep soil alive,

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A Mindset for sustainability

Former industrial designer and lecturer Torvong Puipanthavong ditches the ​rat race to devote his time to the self-sufficiency philosophy.

The Nation, 2021

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Per family Puiphanthawong is happy with the king's ​science according to the way of self-sufficiency.

People's happiness is not the same. Some people are happy because they live a ​luxurious life.

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Ban rai yai lim

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BAN RAI YAI LIM

Phetchaburi Provinve, Thailand

BAN RAI YAI LIM

Phechaburi Province, Thailand

Mr. Torvong Puipanthavong


Position: President of the Agri-Nature ​Network


He was a former lecturer and Deputy Dean of the Faculty ​of Architecture and Design at King Mongkut’s Institute of ​Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL). He worked at KMITL for ​21 years until the end of 2015. He took early retirement ​from KMITL and volunteered to work for the Agri-Nature ​Foundation. Currently, he serves as the President of the ​Agri-Nature Network.


He is guided by the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) ​of His Majesty King Rama IX. He has applied this ​philosophy to address water scarcity on his land and ​improve soil biodiversity. By using the Klong Sai Kai ​system to channel water from roads into excavated ponds, ​and distributing it across the area with a solar cell system, ​they have successfully eliminated drought conditions. ​After testing the system themselves, they worked with a ​network to expand its implementation in schools, ​government offices, prisons, and temples, creating a ​network interconnected by soil and water.

Soil Biodiversity :

Ban Rai Yai Lim

The sufficiency economy philosophy, introduced in 1974 by His ​Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, is an ​approach to sustainable development that espouses ​moderation, reasonableness and prudence as a development ​framework based on knowledge and virtue.


Over the years, it has been adopted by many Thais, one of whom, ​Torvong Puipanthavong, the former head of the Industrial Design ​Department and vice-dean of the Faculty of Architecture, King ​Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) decided ​to make it his life’s work in 2015 and has never looked back.

In Nong Ya Plong District, the local geography ​is a border district adjacent to Myanmar, with a ​Karen community. It used to be a "red zone," ​originally, it was laterite soil and was located in ​a relatively dry rain shadow area.

The soil can be revitalized into fertile soil, ​full of biodiversity. There is water for ​household and agricultural use throughout ​the year. Until being self-reliant with 4 ​Sufficient Foundations and having some ​left over for distribution and sharing.

Source of Life

After two years of learning the King’s philosophy ​from Wiwat, who is the president of the World Soil ​Association, an adviser to Agri-Nature Foundation, ​and a former Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives ​Minister, Torvong was all set to go. “I created a ​mind map with everything I had learnt about the ​King’s philosophy with regard to natural ​agriculture, soil, water, forest, people and dharma.”


That’s not to say he has totally given up on design. ​These days he uses his talent in art and science to ​create a life that’s in total harmony with nature. He ​has set up the Phetchaburi River Basin Agrinatural ​Community (PAC) and turned his Ban Rai Yai Lim ​home into a sufficiency economy learning centre.

Restoring the Source of the Pa Sak River:

Promoting Sustainable Agriculture Based on the King’s Philosophy


They are collectively restoring the watershed forests in the Phetchabun mountain ​range, the origin of the Pa Sak River and other significant rivers that sustain the ​lives of people in central Thailand and the upper northeastern region. Their aim ​is to lay the foundation for human development, restore natural resources at the ​watershed level, and restore soil, water, and forests. This initiative demonstrates ​that applying the King’s Philosophy, including the principles of the Sufficiency ​Economy and New Theory Agriculture, combined with local wisdom, can ​transform arid lands into lush greenery, improve farmers' livelihoods, and help ​them become debt-free. Most importantly, it provides a sustainable solution to ​economic and social issues.


This effort aligns with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals ​(SDGs), particularly focusing on reducing hunger by creating safe and secure ​local food sources and eradicating poverty by teaching self-reliance and living ​according to the Sufficiency Economy principles, starting from having enough to ​eat, use, and share, which are the basic steps for stable development.

“This project is very important to expand results of the King’s philosophy and serves as a guideline and an inspiration for everyone. ​The most important thing is the power of humans in helping each other to push it forward quickly. I believe in the power of unity,” ​says Torvong.

Continuous efforts have been made to incorporate the King’s Philosophy and local wisdom into practical actions to sustainably ​mitigate floods and droughts in the Pa Sak basin. These efforts have resulted in tangible examples of success and the expansion of ​these practices, beginning with creating models among individuals, communities, and schools, and then extending to other ​watersheds across the country.

They are broadening the base and strengthening ​the depth by uniting efforts, developing human ​potential, and restoring basins while fostering ​leaders to act as champions in various basins ​nationwide. This preparedness aims to reinforce ​unity and drive development, ensuring ​sustainable and self-reliant progress across all ​basins.

Torvong also honors the teachings of ​the late King Rama IX.


“Our loss is our gain”




meaning “our deficit constitutes our profit, or we incur a loss to reap a profit.”