By Pawida Charoenmuang
Tha Sae, Chumphon – As climate change directly impacts agriculture, many farmers are forced to face uncertainty in their livelihoods. Depending on a single crop often leaves households vulnerable.
For Prasoet and Nalaya Kittiwetyanuson, a farming couple and members of the Coffee++ project, adopting regenerative agriculture approach has become their solution to uncertainty and a foundation that allows them to stand strong amidst ever-changing conditions.
It’s early in the morning when Prasoet and Nalaya strolled through their vast and lush coffee plantation situated in a foothill. Coffee cherries, still green and waiting for harvest, are surrounded by a diversity of plants that complement and support one another. Areca palms serve as windbreaks to protect coffee trees from snapping, tall Chanee durians provide shade, vetiver grass secures the soil, and pinto peanut fix nitrogen and retain soil moisture. Every corner of the farm is alive and thriving, a testament to the knowledge, experience, and care invested by the farmers who nurture it.
“Everything in the farm is connected,” Nalaya explained with a smile. “We grow in an intercropping system. Coffee is our main income, but we also plant senna trees to repel insects, and when the leaves fall they enrich the soil. Areca protects against wind. Durian gives us extra income while waiting for the coffee harvest.”
The turning point came when Nestlé stepped in to provide training and guidance to smallholder farmers. They learned how to prepare the land, plant, fertilise, and manage quality of coffee produces before selling. With this knowledge, the quality of their coffee improved dramatically. Even during years when coffee prices dropped, Nestlé continued to offer support. “They never abandoned us,” Prasoet said.
Later, the Coffee++ Thailand Project, an initiative led by GIZ in partnership with Nestlé was introduced to the areas. In cooperation Department of Agricultural Extension, Department of Agriculture, and Land Development Department, the project aims to improve the livelihoods and climate resilience of over 2,200 smallholder coffee farmers by introducing regenerative practices, building networks of trainers, and providing hands-on training to ensure real adoption in the field.
This marked the beginning of farming in a systematic way. The couple have been adopting regenerative agriculture into practice for over six years.
Since then, regenerative farming has transformed their lives. From land once too poor to yield, today their robusta coffee plot has become a showcase of success, earning them Second Prize at the Thai Coffee Excellence Awards 2025, in the GAP-Regenerative category, which is a recognition for farmers who have truly put regenerative agriculture into practice.
Their approach is rooted in respect for the soil and all forms of life in the ecosystem. That respect has been returned in abundance, through fertile land and healthy harvests. Every step of their farm work is done with care: nurturing the soil, intercropping to increase biodiversity, and deliberately avoiding chemical pesticides. “We want our coffee and other crops to be safe,” Nalaya said. “Consumers can feel at ease, and so can we as farmers.”
Still, external uncertainties remain, be it volatile crop prices, rising production costs, and shifting climate patterns with rains that no longer come on time. These forces often reduce yields. When asked about how he views these challenges, Prasoet replied calmly but with confidence: he will not stop learning. He will keep embracing every new opportunity and idea to adapt and move forward.
“Climate change is here. We have to learn how to adapt. Whenever there’s training or a chance to visit other farms, I take it. We must dare to think differently and try new things. As long as we keep learning, we will manage to survive,” Prasoet shared with a smile.
Aree Jaidee, field advisor and coordinator of the Coffee++ Project, added: “Our project promotes regenerative agriculture to ensure people and nature can coexist sustainably.”
For farmers who care for the environment, the reward is clear: precious resources that continue to provide food, income, and a secure future.■
