MREAL SAO

Sao is a farmer in Pu Ngaol. He also works as a freelance builder and a community patrol agent (CPA) helping to monitor illegal activities in the surrounding forest. 

About 

Sao owns around 1.5 hectares (15,000 m2) of land where he farms rice. He also plants potatoes, other vegetables such as beans, around 100-200 m away from the rice field during the rainy season to sell at the market. Normally, preparing the fields will take around 15 days to a month if there is sufficient rainfall. If there is not sufficient rainfall then it can take longer. Sao highlights that the water availability, and poor soil quality, at his farm has reduced his crop yield over the years, meaning he often has to buy food from sellers. He shares that other farmers and traders are experiencing the same. Further, the lower price of potatoes, higher price of gasoline and hiring support for his farm, means he has less money to support his family and others in the community. 

Sao will often help with any household tasks before going to the farm to check if anything needs maintenance such as the field and fences, or looking after the cows. Sao shares that he broke his hand nearly four years ago and it hurts when he works intensively or tries to lift something heavy. He can use his walking tractor for farming but avoids chopping wood due to the pain in his hand, and it can be costly to travel into the forest. He shares that he would much rather work on his farm. During the dry season, Sao will work as a freelance builder, mainly supporting house building. When the rainy season arrives, he returns to maintaining the rice field, building fences, and farming. He shares that while there has not been a flood near where he lives, people in the lower parts of the village have experienced flooding in their houses.

Sao also works as a community patrol agent with the ‘Srae Antong Natural Resource’ Community. There are 15 community patrol agents in each village. However, Sao shares that only eight are active in his. They patrol the forests twice a month either two days and one night, or three days and two nights at a time. The group takes blankets, hammocks and food seasoning (such as salt and Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)). They have four walkie talkies to communicate between them during patrols. If they encounter offenders who are conducting illegal logging, the patrol approaches the offenders and confiscates their wood and equipment, which they then send to the Ministry of Environment.

Issues and Ideas

• There is an electric water pump in Pu Ngaolbut water sources can be contaminated with animal waste, which can cause illness and skin irritation. Sao would like to see a water tank in the community to store clean water. What ideas can you come up with to ensure safe and reliable water for domestic and agricultural use Pu Ngaol?

• Strict laws mean the community could face lawsuits if they clear any forested land to increase their agriculture. Sao collects manure from the forest to use as a natural fertiliser, however, there are few buffalo in the area. Can you come up with any ideas to improve crop yields and improve the viability of the soil in Pu Ngaol?

• Sao highlights that during their patrols they are often threatened by people who cut down trees in the Community Protected Areas. What ideas can you come up with to support safe monitoring and prevention of deforestation and animal hunting in the local forests?

Find out more from Mreal Sao in their video interview, available here.