Chatchai Organic Coffee Farming

Chatchai Khabu

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The story of Chatchai Kabu’s coffee farm began in Ban Ae-go, Tham Lot Sub-district, Pang Mapha District, Mae Hong Son Province. In 2011, I relocated to Ban Doi Phak Kut, which is part of the Royal Initiative Project of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit the Queen Mother. Upon moving, I coordinated with the military unit overseeing the project and officers from the Land Development Department to structure my farm. Together, we carved out agricultural terraces and planted vetiver grass along the contours to stabilize the soil.
That same year, I planted about 1,500 Catimor and Arabica seedlings that I had nursery-raised myself. Unfortunately, 1,000 trees did not survive, leaving only 500. In 2012, I added around 200 Typica seedlings provided by the district and provincial agricultural offices. By 2013, I planted an additional 2,000 Typica trees, which I had personally germinated back in 2011. Since then, the farm has continued to grow, expanding by 1,000 to 2,000 trees every year. Today, I have approximately 3,000 mature, harvestable coffee trees, alongside another 3,000 to 4,000 young trees that are still maturing.
Currently, my oldest coffee trees are over 10 years old. Under the close guidance of Royal Project Foundation officials, we are now setting up structural posts for the mature farm and are in the process of obtaining an official Organic Certification.
To maintain a truly sustainable ecosystem, we rely entirely on organic fertilizers. This includes natural green manure from within the farm, a nutrient-rich compost made from buffalo, chicken, and sheep manure mixed with fermented coffee cherry pulp and wood ash, and high-quality bat guano pellets.