Chemical-Free Longan Farming Has Promising Future in Chiang Rai

Mr. Chan Mudpor is a longan farmer who differs from many others like him in Phan District in that he has turned his back on chemical pesticides and fertilizers and instead uses homemade pest-control and organic manure.

The 65-year-old agriculturalist started organic farming in 2001, after attending workshops arranged by the local agriculture office. Mr. Chan protects his longan orchard from fruit flies with natural methods that costs him less than 500 baht.

Mr. Chan and his family have become healthier thanks to their separation from chemical pesticides. He was also awarded a certificate of quality by the Department of Agricultural Extension.

Although Mr. Chan’s environmentally-friendly farming is less productive than the chemical-dependent counterpart, the market demand for his products is growing steadily, just as his income. This year, he has earned more than 500,000 baht from longan sales.