LivestockVillage DevelopmentWorking Animals

The Royal Buffalo Bank – Promoting Animal Traction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqK2CN0J_jM

Water Buffalo have been a community staple throughout Southeast Asia for centuries, especially in Thailand where the largest agricultural export is rice. Not only are buffaloes used as animal traction, but they also provide sources of food, such as meat and milk, as well as producing copious amounts of dung which is used as fertilizer and as a fuel when dried.

Until recent decades, Thailand had the highest water buffalo population. It has declined from seven to two million over the span of 30 years as a result of the mechanization (motor driven tillers aka “the mechanical buffalo)” and an exodus of small farmers.

As a means to avoid the continued loss of this national symbol, the state decided to promote this amazing animal by creating the Royal Buffalo "Bank". There are now over 100 banks across Thailand. The buffalo are lent to farmers that do not have their own and are given three years to breed and care for the offspring to increase their income.

Plernpis Thongklad is a promoter and regional director for this program in Bua Yai, Thailand. She oversees the loans of buffalo as well as organizing and providing training programs on how to use the buffalos for animal traction. The program has successfully helped the buffalo population and farmers alike.

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