Sprinklers of hope and bounty

Story by Janice Evidente, Photo by Albert Yu

Mr Kamonporn, 51, is a hard working man. Prior to the tsunami, he had three income streams to provide for his family needs. He grew vegetables, cultured sea shells and crabs, and worked as a sign artist in Khao Lak.

He was working on a sign at Kha Lampi-Hat Thai Mueang National Park when he saw a black wave approach and hit inland. It left the park muddy when the water withdrew back to the sea.

"Then I saw a second wave surge higher than the first, I ran away to a much higher place up into the forest," he recalled.

He immediately went back home to check on his family and found them safe in the mangrove-strewn village of Thai Din Daeng. But the seashells and crabs nets were washed away. Nothing was left of the pens he had invested in and worked hard for.

Worst of all, the signage company closed shop. He only had one occupation left: farming.

His farm was spared from the surge, protected by thick mangroves and palm trees planted near the shore. It was his only hope left.

But farming is physical and demands a lot of time and attention. He has to work harder to raise what he used to earn.

"I had the opportunity to learn with the rest of the village farmers during an educational trip that World Vision arranged. We went to Kuraburi to observe a new irrigation solution to efficiently water farm crops. The trip was part of the programme that World Vision introduced to us to rebuild livelihood after the tsunami stripped most of us of our source of living," he said.

On their return, World Vision provided 2,000 meters of water tubes and sprinkler heads to the families.

"The community embraced the new technique and we still benefit from the system today," Mr Kamonporn added.

"At that time, there were no other farmers in Thai Mueang who used this kind of irrigation system. We found it really helpful so we welcomed it," he said.

He adapted the same agricultural technology to the other vegetables he grew including trailing watermelons. He used bigger pipes and sprinklers to supply water to his plots of string beans, ridge gourd, and eggplants.

"Our ridge gourd daily harvest alone averages 50 kilos which we sell at 17 Baht (about USD 50 cents)," he happily reported.

"I come on weekends to help in the farm. I especially love the long beans," says Kamonporn's 11-year-old daughter, Korakod.

"My father teaches me how to grow the vegetables so I know how to care for the plants," says Korakod who wants to pursue Islamic studies when she grows up.

The sprinkler heads had been replaced a couple of times since 2004 but despite the long years of exposure to different environmental factors, the irrigation tubes are still functional.

"These are still the original tubes provided by World Vision. They have withstood the years unlike the tubes that you get from the market now which easily wear and break."

Mr Kanorporn has extended his industry to hydroponics. He grows loose leaf lettuce varieties and arugula on several beds in his backyard.

"Since I don't have to be at my vegetable farm most of the time, I can do hydroponics on the side. Income is good since harvest is year-round. I harvest 10 times a year," he said.