Bualai

Bualai is a 51-year-old married woman living with her husband and two grown children in a rural area of Surin province, Thailand. To earn a living, Bualai works as an assistant village head and also runs a cattle farm as a second occupation, while her husband farms 40 rai (6.4 hectares) of jasmine rice. Furthermore, her eldest child currently works for a local company, while the youngest freelances.

Ten years ago, Bualai decided to follow her passion for cattle farming and start managing a herd of her own. She began by purchasing calves to raise, and she gradually learned about cattle farming and the breeding process through hands-on experience on the farm. Since her workplace is not far from home, she is able to look after her cattle throughout the day. Bualai mainly raises native Thai cattle, which are in strong demand in the market and well known for the quality of their meat. At present, she has 10 cattle on her farm and sells both mature cattle and calves to livestock traders and other local farmers in the area. She typically makes sales once or twice a year, with the income going towards her family's household expenses.

As the rice farming season approaches, Bualai sees this as a good opportunity to focus on breeding more calves, which she can then raise for sale once they reach market weight. With a growing herd, she will be able to generate a more steady income and maintain a reliable supply for her buyers whenever they need cattle. To support this growth, Bualai has applied for a loan to purchase three good-quality heifers (native Thai breed), cattle feed, vaccines, minerals, straw bales, and construction materials for repairing the cattle shed and building feeding troughs.

The new heifers will strengthen her breeding stock and allow her to produce more calves each year, while the feed, vaccines, and minerals will keep her cattle healthy and productive throughout the year. The repaired shed and new feeding troughs will also provide a cleaner, more organised environment that supports better growth and reduces the risk of disease.

Bualai's ultimate goal is to grow her farm into one of the largest ranches in the community and raise more than 20 cattle. She also hopes that this business will serve as a long-term source of financial security for her family in the years to come.