When people hear the word oasis, they often picture a pool of water in the desert: a life-giving refuge. In today’s climate crisis, many farmers in Thailand are seeking their own oasis to survive worsening droughts and floods. Despite the rainy season, large areas still face delayed rainfall, insufficient water, or unexpected flooding-pressures that severely impact agriculture, the foundation of global food supply.
Recognising the urgency, Mitr Phol Group, a leader in the sugarcane and sugar industry, has launched the ‘Mitr Phol Oasis’ or ‘Agricultural Oasis’ initiative. This large-scale reservoir project supports sugarcane farmers by providing a sustainable water source, enhancing agricultural resilience and productivity.
Water as the Foundation of Life
Mr Buntoeng Vongkusolkit, Chairman of Mitr Phol Group, explains: ‘As an organisation that plays a key role in advancing Thailand’s agricultural sector, Mitr Phol does not see itself merely as a business operator. We are responsible citizens, committed to developing sustainable water solutions. Water is the foundation of life, economic stability, and environmental sustainability. By ensuring reliable access to alternative water sources, the ‘Mitr Phol Oasis’ provides practical relief to farmers, while also sharing knowledge on systematic water management through the Mitr Phol ModernFarm approach.’
The project converts flood-prone lowlands into reservoirs with a combined capacity of over one million cubic metres. These collect and store excess water during the rainy season to mitigate floods, then release it in the dry season to combat shortages. Currently, there are four sites in Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Suphan Buri, and Kalasin provinces, covering more than 22,000 rai of farmland.
The benefits are substantial: higher agricultural productivity, reduced costs by up to 3,500 baht per rai annually, and more consistent incomes for farmers. In addition, local jobs are created, strengthening community economies.
A Life Transformed
In Ban Thanon Klang, Chaiyaphum province, lush sugarcane fields now flourish thanks to the Oasis project. Farmers describe how their lives changed.
Mae Eiang (Butsakorn Khankang) recalls: ‘This area is far from natural water sources. Floods were frequent, and I relied solely on rainfall. I dug a small pond, sometimes paying up to 4,000 baht to refill it. I worried constantly whether the water would last.’
Mae Phap (Supap Chanthi) adds: ‘To water sugarcane, I had to hire labourers to haul over a hundred heavy pipes across kilometres. After watering, we carried them all back. It was exhausting.’
Now, with the Oasis project, both women enjoy reliable water supplies and expert guidance. Through Mitr Phol ModernFarm, they learnt to choose resilient sugarcane varieties, adopt drip irrigation, and fertilise more efficiently. Yields rose dramatically-from 7-8 tonnes per rai to over 20 tonnes.
Mae Eiang smiles: ‘When there’s water, there’s life. With this project, we no longer gamble on the weather. We even share water through a LINE group with over 100 members, booking usage fairly. Besides sugarcane, I grow vegetables and fruit around the reservoir-cucumbers, beans, bananas, papayas. We eat some, sell the rest. It’s like having our own supermarket.’
Strong Community Water Management
Water reserves alone are insufficient without good management. At Ban Thanon Klang, a dedicated water team ensures fair distribution.
Phor Therd (Therdsak Phamanee), the ‘Station Master,’ explains: ‘Mitr Phol helped design the system-planning rotations, dividing the area into zones, and installing high-pressure pumps for equitable delivery. Every day I check reservations in our LINE group, monitor pressure, and oversee the opening of valves. Ten valves at a time release water directly to farms or ponds, ensuring efficiency and fairness.’
More Than a Reservoir
The Mitr Phol Oasis is far more than infrastructure. It represents sustainable resource management, resilient farming, and stronger communities. By turning climate challenges into opportunities, the project empowers farmers to withstand uncertainty while supporting local economies and protecting the environment.
In the words of one farmer: ‘When there’s water, there’s life.’ For thousands of Thai sugarcane growers, the Oasis is not only a reservoir but also a lifeline-and a promise of a more resilient future.