GENDER EQUALITY HAS LONG BEEN THE NORM IN THAILAND
Thailand is making steady progress towards gender equality. Ranked 8th in Asia according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2023, and with more than 40 per cent of senior positions in the business sector held by women, this is a country where women’s leadership is nothing new. But beyond the statistics and outside the cities, we see the reality of that leadership at close quarters – in our suppliers’ organic rice fields.
In the northern and north-central plains of Thailand, our suppliers’ dedicated farmers, field staff and agronomists work together to ensure the smooth running of organic rice cultivation.
FEMALE LEADERSHIP
Whilst it is often assumed that farming is a male-dominated profession, 50 per cent of the farmers from whom we source our rice are, in fact, women. Within a network of 400–500 farmers, many of these women not only work the land, but also take the lead in sustainable, innovative rice cultivation.
For many, farming is more than just a job – it is a family tradition. Women in particular cherish the opportunity to work alongside their entire family, passing on skills, knowledge and a deep connection to the land. Their leadership is shaping the future of organic rice cultivation and ensuring that tradition and progress go hand in hand.
A HOPEFUL FUTURE
One of the organic rice farmers explains: “We’ve noticed that the weather is becoming more extreme and less predictable as the years go by – the hot season is hotter, the monsoons wetter, which means we can lose entire harvests, our main source of income. Yet we all need to eat rice.
It’s wonderful to be part of the trials and development of future-proof methods that will help us improve our harvests and adapt to this changing environment. It gives me hope – especially now that my son has joined the farm – that Khun Anna-Marie has helped us secure a future for organic rice that also protects our land, our heritage and our way of life.”
A NEW ERA IN ORGANIC FARMING
Anna-Marie, our supplier who supports the local farmers, goes on to say:
“The introduction of new technologies – including drones and innovative ideas – is revolutionising our approach to sustainable organic farming. It’s opening up possibilities we couldn’t have imagined five years ago. Many of our farmers reminisce about the days when their families worked small plots of land alongside relatives, friends and, of course, buffalo. Those days are long gone, replaced by ‘metal buffalo’ [tractors], other mechanised tools and smarter technologies. It’s a major shift; there’s a lot going on and it’s exciting. The best part is that we can test these ideas ourselves on our demonstration plots; we can see what really works – and that’s incredibly empowering for us and our community of farmers.”
PROUD TO WORK TOGETHER
Thanks to Anna-Marie’s vision and guidance, women in our supplier organisation have the opportunity and the freedom to play an active role – whether that involves running farms, managing trial plots or developing innovative approaches to organic rice cultivation. We would like to recognise the women who are an essential part of this work. Through their knowledge, experience and constant dedication, they continue not only to strengthen the farms, but also the future of organic rice. In many ways, they are the unsung matriarchs of South-East Asia – quietly leading, adapting and ensuring that this way of farming can be passed on to the next generation.
At DO IT Organic, we are proud to work with forward-thinking companies that prioritise fair working conditions and gender equality. Take, for example, this story from our organic rice supplier. Read more about our commitment to fairness.
FIND OUT MORE
Discover the stories behind our organic ingredients: where they come from, how they’re grown and the journey they take to reach their final destination.
Would you like to source organic rice for your business? Please get in touch with us; we’d be happy to tell you all about our organic supply chain and our product range.
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