Over the last six years this project has worked towards establishing a valley-wide agricultural cooperative in Wawi.

The Co-op grew out of small interest projects established in each of six participating villages. Farmers had the opportunity to gain agricultural knowledge through study tours and training, and had access to small loans enabling them to establish community activities such as pig raising, fish farming, coffee growing, planting fruit trees and savings groups.

Before the Thai Government’s war on drugs, many villages in the Wawi area were heavily involved in the drug trade. Corruption, high debts, a lack of resources and limited opportunities to earn a legitimate income led to a loss of communal trust and the disintegration of a sense of community.

As interest groups began to work together, a measure of trust was re-established. Each village selected a representative to become part of an inter-village working committee that helped to establish the Co-operative.

The Co-op helps farmers in the valley make more money from their crops by making bulk purchases to lower material costs, producing and selling organic fertiliser, and selling crops directly to the lowland town markets.

The feedmill project managed by the Co-op buys corn from project members and produces animal feed which is then sold to the villagers. Farmers hold shares in the co-operative and receive a percentage of the profits. Other farmers can sell their corn or soybeans for a fair price and purchase inexpensive high quality animal feed.

Recently, the Co-op has also begun breeding piglets to demonstrate the quality of the animal feed, and to enable local farmers to buy good quality pigs.

The Co-operative now has a full-time volunteer managing its day-to-day activities, while an MMF staff member continues to oversee the project.