Lamsaiyong Model and IRPC Smart Farming Project

The initiative is being implemented across three provinces—Buriram, Udon Thani, and Rayong—leveraging IRPC’s expertise in water resource management to address water scarcity in drought-prone areas. Efforts focus on developing and managing additional water storage facilities to support agricultural activities during the dry season.

Building on these foundations, the project integrates Smart Farming technologies to promote integrated agriculture tailored to the unique environmental conditions and way of life of each community. Guided by the principles of efficiency, simplicity, and maximum benefit, this approach ensures that solutions are both sustainable and practical, empowering local communities to enhance agricultural productivity while conserving natural resources.

• Lamsaiyong Model and IRPC Smart Farming – Nang Rong District, Buriram Province

In 2014, IRPC Public Company Limited launched a water management and storage development project in drought-prone areas, originally named the “Create Canals, Create People” project, at Ban Nong Yang, Lamsaiyong Subdistrict, Nang Rong District, Buriram Province. The initiative aimed to address water shortages for agriculture and domestic consumption during the dry season.

With funding support from IRPC and in collaboration with the Foundation for Education and Public Assistance, five village reservoirs in Ban Nong Yang, covering a total area of 18 rai, were dredged to increase their depth and interconnected to expand capacity. As a result, water storage increased from 40,000 cubic meters to 90,000 cubic meters, serving as the raw water source for the village’s water supply system.

Additionally, IRPC released freshwater fish into the reservoirs to enhance the community’s natural food sources and generate income by allowing villagers and outsiders to fish in the reservoirs.

2015 – IRPC mobilized employee volunteers to repair and upgrade Ban Nong Yang’s water supply system, which previously produced water with high sediment content that was unsuitable for consumption. After improvements, the system was able to produce clean, safe water meeting quality standards. Volunteers also trained the community to maintain and operate the water system independently, ensuring a consistent supply of quality water.

2016 – The company installed HDPE water pipelines from Khlong Lamsaiyong to a 50-rai reservoir in Don Chon Forest, Lamsaiyong Subdistrict, which had been excavated by government agencies. A 4.2-kilowatt solar-powered pump system was also installed to transfer water from the public canal to the reservoir. This reduced the community’s electricity costs and enabled them to fully utilize the reservoir’s water resources.

2020 – In response to severe drought conditions that left Ban Nong Yang’s reservoirs insufficient, IRPC funded the drilling of two groundwater wells and installed 2.7-kilowatt solar-powered pump systems. This ensured access to water for domestic use, agriculture, and income generation while also reducing the community’s electricity expenses.

2022 – IRPC partnered with the Ban Nong Yang community to repair and restore the village’s water supply system, which had been in use for over 20 years and was deteriorating.

2023 – The company supported the establishment of a community enterprise to create jobs and generate income for local residents. As a result, the “Lamsaiyong Model Smart Farming Community Enterprise” was officially registered, strengthening the community’s capacity for sustainable development.

• Lamsaiyong Model & IRPC Smart Farming – Ban Dung District, Udon Thani Province

2019 – Present
Since 2019, IRPC has been implementing the Lamsaiyong Model at the Udon Thani Center for the Promotion and Development of Persons with Disabilities — a site where the company had previously supported an occupational development project for persons with disabilities in 2017. Today, the center welcomes persons with disabilities and their caregivers to use the space for vocational training in agriculture and livestock farming.

To launch the initiative, the company deployed its volunteer engineers to design and carry out various infrastructure improvements. These included expanding agricultural water reservoirs, laying water pipelines, installing solar-powered water pumping systems, and constructing both ground-level and elevated water storage tanks. The team also upgraded restrooms to be accessible for persons with disabilities and added ramps for ease of mobility. Additional facilities were built, including poultry houses for egg-laying hens, a bio-compost facility, and a “cowboy fence” to clearly designate and separate farming and livestock areas.

2020
In 2020, the company designated the Udon Thani Center for the Promotion and Development of Persons with Disabilities as an ongoing site for its social responsibility initiatives. The aim was to position the center as a training and knowledge hub for agriculture and livestock farming for persons with disabilities, while also enhancing the center’s capacity for self-reliance. This included strengthening its capabilities in land management, income generation, and expense management to ensure sustainable operations.

2021
In 2021, the company advanced the project by integrating agricultural innovations and technologies tailored to the local community’s lifestyle and the capabilities of persons with disabilities. A 35-rai area within the Udon Thani Center for the Promotion and Development of Persons with Disabilities was designated as the IRPC Smart Farming site. This agricultural learning space is designed to welcome persons with various disabilities, the elderly, and caregivers of bedridden individuals, enabling them to acquire agricultural skills suited to their physical abilities and potential. The goal is to empower participants to generate sustainable livelihoods and incomes for themselves and their families.

The company provided support by sourcing practical, user-friendly agricultural technologies and innovations appropriate to the land conditions and the lifestyle of farmers with disabilities. The project’s vision was guided by the working principles of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great (Rama IX):  “Integrated agriculture with appropriate technologies for the area and the community’s way of life, grounded in the principles of economy, simplicity, and maximum benefit.”

This approach is combined with structured education, training, and knowledge-sharing from experts, thereby improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities. It creates opportunities for them to engage in agriculture as a viable profession, earn income, and produce high-quality, cost-effective yields.

Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Academic Collaboration

IRPC Public Company Limited and the Faculty of Engineering at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly implement the IRPC Smart Farming Project at the Udon Thani Center for the Promotion and Development of Persons with Disabilities.

This collaboration focuses on the transfer of knowledge and the exchange of expertise in water management, crop cultivation development, and the app of agricultural innovations and technologies—core components of the IRPC Smart Farming initiative.The MOU covers a three-year period, from June 21, 2021, to June 20, 2024.

Driving the IRPC Smart Farming Project through Employment under PTT’s Restart Thailand Program

This initiative aims to stimulate the Thai economy and develop society by employing workers and newly graduated students (vocational certificate to bachelor’s degree) to join PTT Group’s “Innovation for Smiles” project (Smart Farming & Smart Marketing). IRPC was allocated six employees from the Restart Thailand program with skills in Smart Farming to work and help drive the IRPC Smart Farming Project at the Udon Thani Center for the Promotion and Development of Persons with Disabilities.

Excavating an agricultural water reservoir designed by company engineers to store water for farming within the IRPC Smart Farming project area (35 rai) and to reserve water for the Center during the dry season.

Constructing a fish pond and a chicken coop for egg-laying hens above the pond under the “Raise Chickens, Get Fish” plan. Raising chickens above the fish pond reduces fish feed costs, minimizes pollution from chicken waste, and lowers labor needs for cleaning and waste disposal. The coop was designed to meet health and hygiene standards.

Installing a solar power system with six 340W solar panels and a water pump to transfer water from the reserve reservoir to the fish pond, as well as distribute water to farming areas, livestock, and smart vegetable greenhouses. This addresses the problem of low and irregular rainfall in the area.

Building a vegetable greenhouse with an automated irrigation system connected to the solar panels to reduce electricity costs and labor for disabled caretakers. The goal was to test growing high-value vegetables during the rainy season by selecting crops that would otherwise be damaged by rain, thereby generating higher income during this period.

In 2022, additional IRPC Smart Farming activities included:

Renovating and extending an unused company office container for the Center, converting it into an office/meeting space with accessibility ramps, air conditioning, exterior lighting, and solar power installation.

Delivering the “Aiang Agriculture Spraying Drone” to the Center to enhance agricultural skills of disabled farmers by using technology to improve productivity. The drone is used to spray fertilizers, nutrients, and hormones, saving time and labor, and creating income opportunities for disabled operators who can offer spraying services.

In 2023, further developments included:

Widening the embankment of agricultural water reservoir no. 3 from 4 meters to 7.3 meters and raising the overflow pipe from 60 cm to 100 cm, doubling water storage capacity.

Installing water level measuring poles in all four reservoirs for water management.

Installing two 2,000-liter water tanks — one for drip irrigation in soil improvement test plots, and one for underground water supply to the chicken coop above the fish pond.

Testing degraded soil improvement using “White Bear” fertilizer.

Developing value-added agricultural products using a solar dryer, such as sun-dried fish and dried bananas.

Providing drone spraying services for rice paddies and field crops in Ban Dung District, Udon Thani, operated by disabled farmers.

In 2024, the project further included:

Testing degraded soil improvement using “White Bear” fertilizer and soil conditioners, as well as testing cultivation of Kluai Nam Wa Mali Ong bananas to further develop and increase the value of agricultural products.

• IRPC Smart Farming, Rayong Province

The project began in 2022 under the name Integrated Agricultural Learning and Tourism Center, Suan Yai Da Che Boonchuen (IRPC Smart Farming), located in Tapong Subdistrict, Mueang District, Rayong Province. It is implemented in line with the company’s vision and mission, ensuring alignment with the goals and methods for achieving success under the 3S strategy (Strengthening the core, Striving for growth, Sustaining the future).

Details and Objectives

1. Implement the IRPC Smart Farming project according to a 3-year plan (2022–2025), driven by the IRPC Smart Farming Working Committee.

2. Carry out the project in collaboration with Suan Yai Da Che Boonchuen (Mrs. Boonchuen Phokaew) to foster participation and deliver benefits to Suan Yai Da, the local community, and the company.

3. Integrate the company’s knowledge and innovations to establish a learning hub for agriculture and agro-tourism, in connection with the IRPC Smart Farming project area in Udon Thani Province.

4. Create benefits for the Rayong community, with Suan Yai Da serving as the central point for the following activities:

   • Serve as a hub for receiving soil samples to analyze nutrient content, enabling farmers to apply fertilizers suited to their soil conditions.

   • Act as a distribution center for community products/goods.

   • Provide income opportunities for the community, such as employment in tourist services.

5. Serve as a study and testing site for the company’s White Bear fertilizer (Nano Zinc Oxide) to gather data for developing fertilizer/nutrient formulas, with the aim of gaining acceptance and expanding the company’s business in the future.

IRPC Young Smart Farmers Project

The IRPC Young Smart Farmers Project extends and expands the concepts and knowledge from the IRPC Smart Farming initiative to schools located near the IRPC Smart Farming project site at the Udon Thani Center for the Promotion and Development of Persons with Disabilities (within a 5–10 km radius). Schools with potential and readiness are selected to participate in the project.

In 2023, IRPC initiated the IRPC Young Smart Farmers Project at Ban Nong Sawang School, Ban Muang Subdistrict, Ban Dung District, Udon Thani Province. The school is under the jurisdiction of the Udon Thani Primary Educational Service Area Office 3 and offers education from kindergarten through lower secondary school, with a total enrollment of 156 students. The school receives support for lunch meals at 21 baht per student from kindergarten level 2 through primary school. It has available space within the campus for agricultural project activities. The school principal and teachers have shown strong interest and enthusiasm in implementing activities to develop students’ skills.

The project objectives are as follows:

• To create a smart farming experimental sandbox for elementary and lower secondary students, focusing on experiential learning and reflective practices linked to the IRPC Smart Farming Project at the Udon Thani Center. This encourages students to study, research, discuss, think critically, and apply knowledge suitably in daily life and various situations.

• To establish a safe food production area free from chemical residues within the school’s agricultural plots.

• To improve the quality of life of students by supplementing their lunch program with produce from the project, addressing nutritional shortages.

• To raise students’ awareness and understanding of food sources, benefits, and nutritional value.

• To enhance out-of-classroom learning skills related to agriculture, life skills, and vocational skills for students.

• To serve as a learning hub for youth, educational institutions, and the community.

Project scope includes:

• Supporting learning and skill development in smart farming through oyster mushroom cultivation. IRPC provides support for installing a mushroom cultivation house equipped with an automatic misting system, elevated water tanks, water pumps, and a solar power generation system for the facility and future project expansion.

• Providing training in mushroom cultivation to teachers and students from grade 4 to grade 9, facilitated by the director of the Udon Thani Center and community leaders who are IRPC Smart Farming network partners.

• Supporting students to learn production accounting, income and expense tracking, and product sales management.

• Encouraging value-added product development such as mushroom chili paste and fermented mushroom products.

Outcomes of the project include:

• Students acquire agricultural skills, learn responsibility division, teamwork, problem-solving, and product sales and processing skills that can support future careers.

• The produce is used to supplement student lunches.

• Surplus produce is sold to generate income for the school, which is then reinvested to develop the school and sustain the project independently.

• The project serves as a learning resource for other schools, communities, and interested parties.

• The project can be expanded to include compost production from agricultural waste by utilizing spent mushroom substrate as raw material for compost used in the project.

Prosthetic Leg Project

IRPC has implemented the Prosthetic Leg Project in collaboration with the Prostheses Foundation of Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother by donating an average of 8 tons of Polypropylene plastic pellets annually to the Foundation. These pellets are used as materials for manufacturing prosthetic leg sockets for amputees free of charge, aiming to improve and enhance their quality of life. The project has been ongoing since 2011.

In addition to being used for producing prosthetic legs at the Foundation’s office in Chiang Mai, IRPC’s plastic pellets are also supplied to the Royal Mobile Prostheses Unit, which operates across Thailand and in neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Myanmar, and Cambodia, as well as to 95 Royal Prostheses Manufacturing Units located in hospitals nationwide. Furthermore, they have been sent to prosthetic factories established by the Foundation at military hospitals in the Republic of Burundi and the Republic of Senegal—both economically disadvantaged countries where many people have lost limbs due to domestic unrest and other causes.

From 2011 to September 30, 2024, the Prostheses Foundation has been able to produce a total of 43,585 prosthetic legs using IRPC’s plastic pellets.

• From 2011 to 2025, IRPC has donated a total of 106 tons of plastic pellets to the Prostheses Foundation.
• IRPC also delivers Polypropylene pellets to Eastern Poly Pack Co., Ltd. (a customer) to be processed into plastic sheets of the sizes required by the Foundation, at no cost.

In addition to donating plastic pellet products, IRPC has continuously collaborated with the Prostheses Foundation in researching and developing materials for prosthetic production. The aim is to manufacture high-quality, durable, and lightweight prosthetic legs and components, enabling amputees to move easily and live daily life like those with full physical mobility.

One of the key results of this R&D is the production of Polypropylene Random Copolymer 3340H—a translucent, flexible, and smooth-surfaced material designed for prosthetic sockets. This allows clear visual inspection of the socket’s fit to the amputee’s residual limb with the naked eye, reducing the need for repeated adjustments and significantly cutting down the time required for prosthetic production.

From Wastes to Walk Project (Recycled Plastic Prosthetic and Orthotic Devices Project

At present, Polypropylene (PP) plastic is one of the main raw materials used in manufacturing prosthetic and orthotic devices—such as prosthetic legs for amputees and various types of supportive devices for patients. However, during the production process of prosthetic legs and orthotic devices, a large amount of leftover plastic parts is generated. These parts are typically large, thick, and rigid, making them difficult to dispose of or sell to recyclers. This creates challenges for prosthetic and orthotic manufacturing units in managing plastic waste, leading to resource loss and environmental problems.

Project Objectives

1. To reduce resource loss caused by the unnecessary disposal of large amounts of leftover plastic parts.

2. To create social products through the company’s quality products, innovations, and expertise.

3. To improve the quality of life for underprivileged persons with disabilities and patients by increasing their access to various supportive devices.

4. To foster collaboration in driving social projects that help Thailand achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Project Implementation

IRPC collects leftover Polypropylene plastic parts from the production of prosthetic and orthotic devices from its network partners and processes them through recycling to produce recycled plastic pellets. These pellets are then delivered to Eastern Poly Pack Co., Ltd. (a customer) to be manufactured into plastic sheets sized 1.40 x 2 meters with a thickness of 3 mm or 5 mm.

These sheets are then used to produce orthotic devices such as Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO)—a supportive device for the foot and ankle designed for people with foot deformities, abnormal foot structures, lower limb muscle weakness, stroke patients, and individuals with congenital cerebral palsy. In addition, the recycled material can also be used to produce prosthetic legs for dogs that have undergone limb amputation

Operations in 2022–2023

• Delivered recycled PP (Polypropylene) plastic sheets to the Prostheses Foundation for use in producing prosthetic legs for amputees and prosthetic limbs for dogs referred from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University.

• On March 9, 2023, IRPC organized the Kick-Off event for “From Wastes to Walk: Recycled Plastic Prosthetic and Orthotic Devices Project” in collaboration with the Prostheses Foundation of Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother and 95 Royal Prostheses Manufacturing Units nationwide.

• On June 28, 2023, IRPC delivered 96 recycled Polypropylene plastic sheets (size 1.40 x 2 meters, thickness 3 mm) to the Sirindhorn National Medical Rehabilitation Institute. These sheets can be used to produce approximately 800–1,000 units of Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO)—supportive devices for the foot and ankle—intended for persons with disabilities or patients with abnormal foot structures, foot deformities, lower limb muscle weakness, stroke, congenital cerebral palsy, and other related conditions.

CSR Product Innovation Research and Development Project

IRPC collaborates with network partners—such as the Prostheses Foundation of Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother and the Sirindhorn National Medical Rehabilitation Institute—in conducting research and development of innovations and products aimed at improving the quality of life for patients and persons with disabilities.

Our Khung BangKachao Project

The Khung BangKachao Community Green Space Development Project (2024–2026) is implemented under the supervision of the Chaipattana Foundation. Each participating organization contributes its expertise, knowledge, innovations, and multi-dimensional technologies to integrate efforts for maximum project efficiency.

IRPC is one of the private sector organizations serving on the project working committee. In 2025, the company implemented a pilot fruit tree cultivation project using White Bear fertilizer products and soil conditioners in a 0.25-rai (400 m²) plot located in the King Rama IX 80th Birthday Anniversary Park in Song Khanong Subdistrict, Phra Pradaeng District, Samut Prakan Province.

The aim is to address challenges and improve fruit cultivation within the project area, including problems such as saline soil, saltwater intrusion, and fruit tree diseases affecting crops like durian, pomelo, Som Theppharot (a Thai citrus variety), and Nam Dok Mai mango.

In Q1/2025, the following actions were undertaken:

1. Soil improvement and yield development – Applied Humic-X Max soil conditioner around the base of trees to improve soil structure, enhance water retention, and adjust pH levels to suit plant cultivation. Additionally, White Bear fertilizers (ZiO-2, Am-Maxx, and Am-CaB formulas) were sprayed on leaves to supplement essential micronutrients for fruit tree growth.

2. Solar-powered water system installation – Installed a 350W solar cell system with battery storage and an automatic water pump.

3. Sprinkler irrigation system installation – Set up a sprinkler irrigation network with underground HDPE water pipes. IRPC received support from its customer, Thai-Asia P.E. Pipe Co., Ltd., which donated 100 meters of HDPE pipes for the project.

The solar cell and sprinkler irrigation systems were designed and supervised by IRPC’s volunteer engineers. The irrigation system was planned to address water shortages during the dry season, with layouts tailored to the specific needs of each fruit tree species. The system also allows controlled watering during the flowering stage of each crop. The installed solar cell system includes battery storage, enabling power backup for days when sunlight is insufficient for electricity generation.

Disaster Management and Relief Project

The Disaster Management and Relief Project is implemented in line with the company’s policy and the disaster management guidelines of the PTT Group. The Corporate CSR team is responsible for the following:

• Manage and provide assistance in the event of disasters within the areas where Corporate CSR projects are implemented.

• Provide aid in other areas based on humanitarian and ethical principles.

• Assist, support, and coordinate with the PTT Group Disaster Management Working Committee during disaster events.

• Collaborate with partner organizations—such as plastic pellet customers—to provide assistance and support to disaster victims.

• Coordinate disaster relief information for affected individuals in the company’s operational areas with relevant agencies and designated responsible parties, as follows:

1. IRPC Industrial Estate – Managed by the Manager, IRPC Industrial Estate, Social Enterprise, and Community Relations.

2. IRPC Oil Depots in Phra Pradaeng, Mae Klong, Ayutthaya, Chumphon, and Surat Thani – Managed by the Senior Manager, Oil Depot Management.

CSR Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing Project Based on the Lam Sai Yong Model and IRPC Smart Farming (Partnership & Knowledge Sharing)

This initiative focuses on building collaborations and creating networks for joint CSR projects and knowledge exchange, following the approaches of the Lam Sai Yong Model and IRPC Smart Farming.

One example is the Water Management Project implemented in line with these models in collaboration with the PTT Social Enterprise Department. The project utilized the expertise of IRPC’s volunteer employees in water supply systems to repair and restore the village water system in Ban Kham Khaen Tai, Kham Khaen Subdistrict, Mancha Khiri District, Khon Kaen Province—which had been out of service for many years—bringing it back to full functionality.