Grower Story
Anuchai Wonghyam
About 40 percent of Thailand’s population works in agriculture-related jobs. Twenty-five-year-old Anuchai Wonghyam, of Thailand’s central Nakhon Pathom province, is one of them. For the past two years, he has been employed at a tapioca production facility near his home, which he shares with his wife, his three-year-old son, and his father-in-law.
As a production officer at the factory, Wonghyam supervises the purification of tapioca syrup. Throughout his six-day work-week, he works diligently from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to ensure product quality, a process that involves both automation and manual control. Day by day, Wonghyam stays focused on doing good work, learning, and gaining experience.
When faced with a new challenge Wonghyam usually tries first to tackle it himself, viewing it as an opportunity to learn. But, thanks to a supportive, team-oriented environment, he is not afraid to ask for advice and support. “I’ve learned a lot from my supervisor about technique, guidelines for solving problems, and suggestions I can use in my real life,” he said. As a result, Wonghyam’s skills continue to improve. “On the first mistake, you might say, ‘I don’t know,’ but a second mistake means you don’t pay attention to your responsibility,” he said. “Helping each other and listening to other opinions always have a good result.”
With his supportive, learning environment, developing skill, and focus on continuous learning, Wonghyam hopes to rise higher in the company and take on new responsibility, a future he looks forward to with confidence. “I believe that my determination and dedication will bring a good return to me,” he said.
For now, Wonghyam’s job has given him the financial stability he needs to support his family, a position he struggled to achieve before. “I love it because this job has made my life better,” he said. “I have an exact salary so I can manage the expenses now for my family. Also, I like the culture and people here because they are friendly to me. This is more than a work place, but like a big family.”
Life at home is also happy. Because he and his wife juggle different work schedules, they rely on Wonghyam’s father-in-law to watch over their son at home. “My son is friendly, playful, and adorable,” he said. “And he encourages me to do more.”
The whole family spends free time and holidays together, enjoying barbeque and soup, their favorite foods. “We go shopping at the market to buy fresh food to cook at home,” he said. “I like this time because I have my favorite foods and times together with everyone in my family.”
When the time comes, Wonghyam has hopes of providing his son with access to a higher education. “I hope he has a chance to grow with quality and have a chance to find a good job,” he said.