Multimedia

Mitigating Climate Change: Indigenous Wisdom of Rotational Farming & Seasonal Food Revival

By Nutdanai Trakansuphakon

Published on 12 May 2024

Natural Resource and Environmental Management, Climate Change

Rotational farming is an agricultural practice that involves alternating cultivation between different plots within the same location whilst leaving other plots fallow. It is often misunderstood and is mistakenly considered to be a destructive farming technique. A Pgakenyaw (Karen) youth, Nutdanai Trakansuphakon, has started an initiative to maintain, revive, and promote rotational farming as a cultural practice tied to Pgakenyaw identity. His work is based on traditional knowledge and practice in dynamic and innovative approaches through his community social enterprise’s activities. These include reviving local seasoning products, hosting group workshops about rotational farming, and opening a gateway to serve local organic ingredients in fine dining restaurants. This talk will not only focus on his initiative but will also explain how the project strengthens the rotational farming system, how it helps foster awareness and pride of cultural identity in young Pgakenyaw people, explores the positive impacts to environmental conservation management, its obstacles, and expected solutions.