Hygienic hens, courtesy of Central and Betagro
Central Group recently kicked off its campaign “Sufficient Barn, Hen Keeping” at nine state schools in five different provinces to promote the sufficiency economy learning process. As part of Central’s sustainability project titled “Central Tham”, the Sufficient Barn, Hen Keeping project aims to stimulate good farming hygiene, generate various sources of revenue from the model, and support sustainable self-reliance for teachers, students and community.
The self-sufficient, hen-keeping project is a co-operation between Central Group and Betagro. Central Group provided 1.8 million baht, which funded the construction of nine barns and the cost of farming equipment, including 100 hens and four months of food stock. The hens and food stock were purchased from Betagro in order to have antibiotic- and hormone-free hens and high-standard food stock, which will provide high-quality and hygienic eggs. The company also provides staff for surveying and supervising the construction. For example, the barns cannot be too close to the classrooms, football fields, canteens and bathrooms for the health and safety of both the hens and students.
Betagro, as an experienced operator, will provide the knowledge on hen-keeping, run training workshops on operational systems and quality control. Health care and disease inspection are also provided at least once a month.
Central Group plans to expand the Sufficient Barn, Hen Keeping project this year to Saraburi, Chiang Mai, Uttaradit and Ubon Ratchathani provinces.