Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CP Foods) supports communities producing safe food for consumption with a sustainability project so-called “Organic Farm of Happiness” project to setting up a seed bank, building sustainable and healthy food source at the community level

“Organic Farm of Happiness” is a 5-year project (2019-2023) aimed at building food security in the community surrounding Phraya Doen Thong Mountain of Lopburi Province. CP Foods supports them to use a local wisdom to grow chemical-free vegetables such as eggplant seeds, frog chin eggplant, tomatoes, zucchini, local zucchini, gourd, chives, okra, etc., and collecting their seeds at a local seed bank.

The organic seeds have been distributed to various communities to promote self-reliance during the coronavirus outbreak or COVID-19.

Mr. Prateep Ornsalung, a villager at Khok Salung and project key coordinator, said that “Organic Farm of Happiness”’ goal is to ensure food security by growing vegetables free of chemicals. They also share produces with families, friends, and community networks.

Under this project, the community has established a seed bank to provide organic seeds for villagers and farmers for further propagation 

“We want people in the community to be able to produce food by themselves, this is important for our food security, especially during COVID-19 pandemic,” he said, adding that 21 local vegetable seeds from the first batch were given to "Quick Win 90 Days", a project of the Department of Community Development, Ministry of Interior,  using King Rana IX’s  Sufficiency Economy Philosophy as a guideline for building community’s food source during the coronavirus situation.

Mr. Chumpol Samran Salung, villager at Khok Salung and a member of the project, suggested every household to grow organic vegetables and kept the seeds at home.

“Because of the COVID crisis, we know that our communities can survive from the food we produce. The more we look in the long term, the more benefits of setting up a seed bank. Our community can be self-dependent, no matter what crisis is ahead,” he said/

Mr. Warawut Uam-Iam, villager at Ban Huai Bong Subdistrict, said that, villagers were growing organic vegetables during the epidemic of COVID-19. They can live by relying on the produce of vegetables from their garden.

“Farmers were suffered from drought in this year. However, the villagers were helped by CP Foods that brought 1000 liters of plastic bucket and drip irrigation equipment. The supports enabled us to grow vegetable for all year.

“ If the COVID crisis does not happened, many people may not realize that growing vegetables for the household is a real help.” he said.

“Organic Farm of Happiness” is a project that initiated to engage communities in forest conservation after a successful result of CPF Rak Ni-Ves at Phraya Doen Thong Mountain Project, a five year plan to revitalized the area. During 2016 - 2020, CPF in collaboration with the Royal Forest Department and communities have conserved, restored, and reforested Phraya Doen Thong Mountain, covering an area of 5,971 rai (955 hectares).