From a Small Pig Farm to a Three-Generation Legacy
In Surat Thani province, Thailand, a family-run pig farm is demonstrating how agriculture can become more than a livelihood. Through dedication, innovation and a commitment to continuous improvement, Charoen Farm has grown from a small-scale operation into a modern agricultural enterprise that has supported three generations of the Charoenphakdi family.
Located in Kanchanadit district, the farm begins each day before sunrise. Family members walk through the pig houses, review production records, inspect animal health conditions and ensure that strict safety and biosecurity practices are being followed.
For the Charoenphakdi family, these daily routines represent more than farm management. They represent decades of hard work, family values and a shared vision for the future.
The farm has become a place where children have grown up learning responsibility, where parents built stability for their families and where a once-challenging occupation has transformed into a proud family legacy.
Starting Small and Building Through Hard Work
The story of Charoen Farm began in 1993, when Paiboon and Kittima Charoenphakdi entered pig farming with 130 breeding sows. At that time, the operation followed a traditional open-house farming system, requiring significant manual labour and personal involvement.
The couple handled nearly every responsibility themselves. They cleaned the pig pens, managed breeding activities, cared for the animals and assisted during the birth of piglets while also balancing other work commitments.
“We did everything ourselves,” Paiboon recalled. “We cleaned the pens and helped deliver the piglets. There were days when we were so exhausted that we barely had time to rest.”
Despite the physical demands, the couple believed that understanding every aspect of the farm was essential to achieving long-term success.
“We had to know what was happening at every stage,” Paiboon explained. “Only then could we identify problems, make improvements and keep up with changes in farming.”
The early years were difficult. Production costs were high, returns were uncertain and there were times when the family struggled to cover expenses. For Kittima, one of her biggest concerns was whether they would have enough financial security to provide their three children with higher education.
The situation began to change when Charoen Farm joined the contract farming programme of Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF). Through the partnership, the family gained access to technical guidance, production planning support and advice from experienced animal husbandry specialists and veterinarians.
This structured approach helped the farm improve efficiency, strengthen management practices and create more predictable income.
“In the beginning, we were running at a loss,” Kittima said. “We earned little but had many expenses. I was afraid that we would not have enough money to send our children to university.”
Over time, the farm became a reliable foundation for the family. All three children were able to continue their studies in Bangkok and successfully graduate from university.
“Pig farming has given us more than income,” Kittima said. “It has given our family security.”
Teaching Responsibility Through Farming
Although Paiboon and Kittima wanted their children to receive a good education, they also believed that learning from the farm was an important part of their development.
From a young age, the children participated in simple farm activities, including feeding pigs, recording animal weights and helping maintain cleanliness around the facilities.
The goal was not only to provide assistance but also to teach important life lessons about discipline, responsibility and perseverance.
“We wanted them to understand that nothing comes for free,” Kittima explained. “Everything the family had was created through hard work.”
She hoped her children would maintain a connection with their agricultural roots and eventually use their knowledge to continue developing the family business.
That vision became reality when the next generation decided to return home and bring new ideas to the farm.
Modernising the Farm for the Future
Today, Charoen Farm is managed by Paiboon and Kittima’s daughters, Arachamon “Pearl” Charoenphakdi and Panrawee “Prae” Charoenphakdi.
Having grown up alongside the farm, the sisters witnessed firsthand the dedication their parents invested in building the business. After completing their education, they returned with fresh perspectives and a desire to modernise the operation.
Under their leadership, the farm has undergone significant transformation. The traditional open-house system has been upgraded to an evaporative cooling, or EVAP, housing system designed to provide improved environmental control for the pigs.
The enclosed facilities help regulate temperature and maintain suitable conditions, supporting animal comfort and improving production management.
The farm has also embraced digital technology. Surveillance systems help strengthen biosecurity, while digital records allow the family to monitor production performance and animal information more effectively.
“We grew up with the farm and saw our parents create everything from nothing,” Arachamon said. “This occupation gave our family stability and allowed us to remain together.”
For the sisters, farming represents a sustainable career path rather than simply a business venture.
“For us, it offers the stability of a permanent career,” Arachamon explained. “We can earn a reliable living while developing the business together as a family.”
The family continues to work closely with CPF specialists, receiving guidance on animal health, production improvements and changing industry standards.
“CPF has been more than a business partner,” Arachamon said. “The animal husbandry specialists and veterinarians have supported us closely and treated us like family.”
Panrawee believes that successful farming depends on genuine care and attention.
“The heart of the work is care,” she said. “We look after the pigs as well as we can so that the food produced from the farm is safe, clean and of good quality.”
A Legacy Reaching the Third Generation
The impact of Charoen Farm is already influencing a new generation.
Arachamon’s young son, Phurinat “Phu” Taengchanthuek, has grown up watching his mother and grandparents dedicate themselves to the farm.
He often sees his mother waking up at three or four in the morning to inspect the pig houses before taking him to school.
“I see my mother wake up very early to take care of the pigs,” he said. “I like pigs, and one day I would like to have many more pig houses because the farm can provide a good income.”
While Phu dreams of becoming a doctor, he also hopes to continue contributing to the family farm in the future.
His perspective reflects how agriculture has evolved within the family. Farming is no longer viewed only as demanding physical work but as a professional career supported by technology, knowledge and long-term planning.
A Family Legacy Built Through Agriculture
After more than three decades, Charoen Farm represents the power of combining traditional family values with modern agricultural practices.
The farm’s journey demonstrates that with determination, technical support and continuous innovation, agriculture can provide far more than financial returns. It can create educational opportunities, strengthen family relationships and inspire future generations.
For Paiboon, the true success of the farm is not only measured by production numbers or business growth. It is measured by the opportunities it has created for his family.
“This occupation gave us a new life,” he said. “It gave our children an education and brought stability and happiness to our family.”
What began in 1993 with 130 breeding sows and two people determined to succeed has become a lasting legacy—one built through commitment, modern farming practices and the shared efforts of three generations working together toward a brighter future.
Source Link:https://www.cpfworldwide.com/
