Rating: 4.5/5 (4 votes)

Open Days: Open to general visitors (please call ahead to confirm, especially for group visits)

Opening Hours: Not officially specified (typically office hours around 08:30–16:30; calling ahead is recommended)

 

Kasorn Kasivit School is a Royal Initiative project under Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, established to preserve and revive the role of the Thai buffalo in agriculture and to pass on sustainable farming knowledge to farmers and the public. In an era when machines have replaced animal labor—often at higher financial and environmental costs—this learning center was created to conserve Thai buffalo breeds, bring back appropriate animal traction in smallholder systems, and demonstrate self-reliance under the Sufficiency Economy philosophy.

 

Spread across more than 110 rai in Ban Nong Wa, Salalomduan Subdistrict, Mueang Sa Kaeo District, the campus is organized into zones for farmer training, agri-learning visits, and environmental demonstrations. Visitors can explore paddy plots at different growth stages, buffalo sheds, composting areas, a working biogas system, an earthen house prototype, and an exhibition hall showcasing traditional farm tools rooted in local wisdom.

 

What sets the school apart is its integration of local wisdom with practical, modern know-how. Every activity is hands-on: try guiding a buffalo plough, transplant rice, or prepare fields using animal traction. Skilled staff are on hand to share practical guidance on buffalo husbandry, health care, feeding with local forages, and breeding suited to the region’s climate and resources.

 

The center features a broad buffalo training ground for ploughing demonstrations. Visitors are invited to hold the ploughline and feel the rhythm of traditional rice farming—muddy boots and big smiles guaranteed. Children, especially, come away with a deeper appreciation for the labor behind each grain of rice.

 

Energy self-reliance is another key theme. The school demonstrates biogas production from buffalo manure for cooking—reducing reliance on commercial LPG and turning waste into value in a circular economy model. Farmers see first-hand how simple, appropriate technology can lower costs and environmental impacts.

 

Do not miss the earthen house zone, a natural-material dwelling built with soil, sand, straw, and bamboo. Cool in summer and low-impact year-round, it models how local materials can become comfortable, durable homes—reflecting a lifestyle in balance with nature.

 

Nearby is the café “Kwai Khanong” (a royal-granted name). More than a coffee stop, it is a community hub selling Chaipattana Foundation’s Patpat products, wholesome meals, and fresh local vegetables, along with handcraft souvenirs from Sa Kaeo. Spending here circulates income directly back to local people.

 

The school also anchors Thai buffalo conservation. Both swamp and river buffalo lines are kept and improved as working breeds for sustainable smallholder farming. Staff explain gentle training methods so animals work safely and effectively with farmers—knowledge that is increasingly rare yet still relevant.

 

Community participation is central. Farmers from across Thailand attend short courses on animal traction, organic methods, and resource-smart management. Many graduates replicate the models back home—cutting input costs and strengthening household food security.

 

For travelers, the school blends learning and leisure. Stroll through rice plots, watch buffalo at work, taste local recipes, and enjoy open fields and fresh air. In the rice season, green paddies with working buffalo create timeless scenes rarely found elsewhere today.

 

Special programs for schools and groups include youth farm camps, rice planting, vegetable gardening, and environmental activities that nurture stewardship and self-reliance. Rotating exhibits cover renewable energy, water management, and appropriate agri-technologies tailored to local contexts.

 

Seasons color the experience. The rainy season is lively with fieldwork and emerald paddies, while the cool season brings crisp air perfect for outdoor activities. Early in the year you may observe land preparation and the first planting cycle—vivid snapshots of farmers’ diligence.

 

Getting There: From Bangkok, take Highway 304 (Chachoengsao–Kabin Buri), then Highway 33 into Mueang Sa Kaeo. At the main Sa Kaeo intersection, turn right onto Thanon Suwannason and continue for about 8 km; follow the sign for “Kasorn Kasivit School” on the left. Driving time is roughly 3–3.5 hours. By public transport, take a Bangkok–Sa Kaeo coach to the provincial bus terminal, then a local songthaew or taxi to the school (about 10–15 minutes).

 

 

A: A Royal-initiative agricultural learning center that teaches buffalo traction and sustainable farming, open for both farmer training and learning visits.

 

A: Buffalo ploughing and rice transplanting demonstrations, compost and biogas production, buffalo sheds and paddy plots, an earthen house, traditional farm-tool exhibits, and the “Kwai Khanong” café.

 

A: Not officially stated; typically office hours (about 08:30–16:30). Please call ahead to confirm hours and the day’s activities.

 

A: Usually no fee for individual visitors. For group study tours, please arrange in advance.

 

A: Take a Bangkok–Sa Kaeo coach to the provincial bus terminal, then a local songthaew or taxi (about 10–15 minutes) to the school.

 

A: Rice-growing season (rainy to late rainy) offers the most on-field activities; the cool season is pleasant for outdoor learning.

 

A: It is a royal-granted name café, serving coffee, wholesome meals, fresh local vegetables, and Chaipattana’s Patpat products—with proceeds supporting local communities.