Our journey: The Drop Seeding Innovation
From a field that everyone thought nothing could grow
Our Journey
Journey of Srisangdao Rice
Inspiration of Srisangdao Rice
Srisangdao Rice, a rice brand from Suwannaphum District, Roi Et Province, is dedicated to producing the finest quality rice with meticulous attention to every step from upstream to downstream. Their mission is to deliver the authentic taste of 'Thung Kula Rong Hai Jasmine Rice' known for its distinctive fragrance and softness that enhances Thai cuisine. Through the Srisangdao Na Yod Village Project, they support farmers using modern science and technology, aiming to increase farmers' income and improve their quality of life. Srisangdao Rice will keep its promise that "This Thung Kula Rong Hai... will cry no more."
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Thailand’s Thai Hom Mali Rice has been recognized as the “Best Rice Variety”
from various international competitions. However, Thai farmers are still struggling because of the very competitive price of rice in the world market, keeping Thai rice prices very low. The only solution for the survival of Thai farmers is to adapt and innovate.
Challenges of the Direct Seeding (Na Yot) Method
Not only was the direct seeding (na yot) method an innovative way of planting rice that required both knowledge and experience, rice cultivation in the Thung Kula Rong-Hai region was also dependent upon seasonal rain, flowering only during the cool season. Farmers could only plant one crop a year, and if the harvest was bad, it meant they would lose their entire income for the year. What was even more difficult, however, was changing the mindset of the farmers who were used to the direct seeding method which required a huge amount of rice seeds. They had to be persuaded to try this new direct seeding method which reduced the number of seeds drastically.
To get the whole farming community on board with the direct seeding (na yot) method required a huge effort, as well as mutual trust on the part of the farmers as well as the Srisangdao Direct Seeding (Na Yot) Village Project. From the first year with only a handful of participating farmers, the journey has now reached a point where the project encompasses a total of 3,000 rai of rice farms.
We never give up...
Thung Kula Rong-Hai, in Suwannaphum District, Roi Et Province.
Provenance of a Rice Mill
Srisangdao Co Ltd is located in Suwannaphum District, Roi Et Province, in Thailand’s northeastern—or Isaan—region. Fortunately for us, Suwannapahum District is right in the centre of Thung Kula Rong-Hai region, known to be one of the best rice cultivation regions of the world.
Srisangdao goes back to the year 1995, when we were appointed by the Department of Internal Trade as the province’s first private central market for rice and agricultural products, buying rice from farmers through a modern and fair pricing system. In 2018, Srisangdao joined hands with the government to promote Khao Hom Mali Thung Kula Rong-Hai as the first Thai product to receive the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), giving us the opportunity to work most closely with farmers to upgrade their rice cultivation methods to achieve international standards. That was when we became aware of the disparity of income of the rice farmers, with the price of rice falling in the increasingly competitive world marke That is why we decided to restore the dignity of the rice farmers to help improve their well-being. After conducting research on rice cultivation methods, we innovated the na yot (direct seeding) method, and set up the Srisangdao Direct Seeding (Na Yot) Village Project, with the goal of increasing income and improving the well-being of rice farmers, and delivering quality rice to the world through Srisangdao Rice.
Voice of CEO
In the old days during harvest time, rice farmers would hire drivers to deliver their rice to the market. This led to a shady system known as “Braking cost”. The drivers would make a deal with some of the rice mills to earn kickbacks in exchange for “overlooking” the weight or humidity of the rice deliveries. But when the Department of Internal Trade appointed Srisangdao as a central rice market, the “Braking cost” system disappeared, as the rice market had to be above- board. Rice mills had to buy rice at a fair price, using accurate scales. Srisangdao has strictly implemented this system ever since we became the central rice market until we set up a rice mill.
Rice farmers also had to be honest, using pure Thai Hom Mali Rice seeds for cultivation, and selling their harvest without mixing in other rice varieties. Srisangdao Rice buys Thai Hom Mali Rice only from farmers in the Thung Kula Rong-Hai region. After quality inspection to ensure it meets international standards, we offer high prices according to the quality and true weight. The rice is then milled through a special process, then delivered to the consumer.
Srisangdao upholds the manifesto transmitted through the generations: “We shall buy rice from farmers in a spirit of honesty and sincerity.” Furthermore, the rice mill has to ensure that the well-being of rice farmers is improved. That was the origin of the Srisangdao Direct Seeding (Na Yot) Village Project that aimed to share know-how on innovative rice cultivation techniques known as the na yot (direct seeding) method that would restore the farmers’ dignity and self-reliance, in the belief that if farmers survive, rice mills will also survive. Our rice mill has received the trust of the rice farmers because of the belief in mutual benefits, therefore “honesty and sincerity” has always been the standpoint of Srisangdao Rice even till today.
Srisangdao Timeline
Srisangdao shop
Registered as Srisangdao (Suwannaphum) Limited Partnership, to produce cement and concrete blocks
The Department of Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce, appointed Srisangdao as the central market for rice and agricultural products for Roi Et Province, becoming the first private sector rice buyer using a modern and fair pricing system.
Registered as Srisangdao Ricemill Ltd Part
Registered Srisangdao Biopower Co Ltd
Restructured from limited partnership to Srisangdao (Suwannaphum) Co Ltd and Srisangdao Ricemill Co Ltd
Set up the Srisangdao Direct Seeding (Na Yot) Village Project to promote the GI awarded Khao Hom Mali Thung Kula Rong-Hai. Launched Srisangdao Rice brand.
Srisangdao rice
Srisangdao rice
Srisangdao rice
Srisangdao rice
Srisangdao rice
Srisangdao rice
Srisangdao rice