OIL PALM
KUAN-DON DISTRICT, SATUN
Our Oil Palm Cluster Farm Group is from Kuan-Don District, Satun province, Thailand. The group members have experiences and knowledge in oil palm production. Each year, unused palm fronds present an opportunity for sustainable innovation. The group has developed ideas to repurpose these crop residues, with a focus on finding practical and environmentally friendly uses for palm fronds.
Demonstrations
1. Fronds Chipper Machine
Video credit: Agri Journalist
1.1 Kuan-Khanun District, Phatthalung province
The Oil Palm Cluster Farm Group of Kuan-Khanun in Phatthalung was the first oil palm group we worked with in the topic of residues utilization (mainly fronds) which falls under "Climate Smart Agriculture (Going Green)" (Pillar 1) concept of the project.
From the discussion with the group and DOAE, it led to the conclusion that farmers would like to convert these residues into compost. Thus, the chipper was used at the first step to chop bulky fronds into chipper, smaller pieces.
1.2 Kuan-Don District, Satun province
Kuan-Don District of Satun was the province we worked with for organic turmeric under "Increase of Agricultural Products" (Pillar 2) concept. However, after the first field visit and situation analysis, it was found that most turmeric farmers in this area are also palm growers with fronds lying around in the plantations without being utilized, just like our farmer group in Phatthalung. Hence, Oil Palm Cluster Farm Group of Kuan-Don, Satun was included for the topic of residues utilization.
In early October 2025, another chipper was sent to our farmer group to proceed the first step on our plan, chopping big fronds into smaller pieces for further composting.
Video credit: Mr.Pu & Mr.Sak
2. Composting with Chipped Fronds
Training on Compost Making
After the hard fronds were chipped, they were brought to be a material to mix with compost. Our Oil palm group at Kuan-Khanun of Phatthalung got organic compost workshop and used microbes from the Land Development Department (LDD)'s Bio-extract Formula 1 to mix.
Compost with chipped fronds were sent to laboratory for nutrient contents testing.
3. Converting Residues to Biochar
An Idea Ignited from the Study Tour
Two farmer representatives from Kuan-Don District of Satun from both Turmeric group (Mr. Pu) and Oil palm group (Mr. Sak) went for the Japan Study Tour with GETHAC Team in August 2025 which had 'Biochar' as one of the focuses.
Mr.Pu and Mr.Sak were interested in biochar integrated in the rice field at 'Sumikko Farm' as part of Green Carbon's project and research knowledge on biochar presented by the 'National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO)'.
From Inspiration to Implementation
The farmers' initiative led to a Biochar Production Workshop for farmer groups of Kuan-Don District of Satun. Interested farmer members attended the workshop to learn how to make biochar from palm residues and other woods in the area...
4. Biochar-mixed Compost as Planting Materials
Biochar Formula for Turmeric Production Trial
Many oil palm farmers in the group are also turmeric growers thus biochar retrieved from chipped fronds and woods were used as part of planting materials trial for turmeric production in the bags.
There were 3 formulas tested:
1. Farmers' traditional formula
2. Recommended formula from the Department of Agriculture (DOA)
3. DOA Formula + Biochar
The first trial was set up in mid 2025 with the results supposed to show at the end of the year. Unfortunately, there was heavy flood in Southern Thailand including Satun province that washed away most of the trial bags as well as normal turmeric production bags. As a result, the re-trial was set up again in mid 2026 for the results to come in early 2027.
Satun Field Day
6 May 2026
Mr.Sak and his group were presenting the process of how palm fronds were chipped into smaller pieces before using them to mix with compost.
Satun Field Day
6 May 2026
Mr. Pu, his group and local Kuan-Don DOAE presented biochar products made by farmer members to the representatives from Thailand's Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) and Department of Agriculture Extension (DOAE).
Chipper Delivery
11 September 2024
Mr.Krongsak Songraksa (former Deputy Director-General of DOAE), together with, Mr.Somkiat Tongpan, the Cluster Farm's Head in Phatthalung, demonstrated how to use the chipper to cut fronds.