A relationship built on trust

Niko Family Farm is quite a famous farm in Myanmar. This is partly due to Sayar Peter’s prolific books, translations, and writing on social media, but also because of the many visitors they have welcomed over the years. They are one of our oldest collaborators, and together we have survived through some very tumultuous times.

In 2018, Niko Family Farm became the first farm in our network when we began including their produce in our vegetable boxes. Through this very first relationship, we tested and slowly built a pattern for all future collaborations at Kokkoya. A pattern grounded in trust.

Trust in collaborations is a radical thing in Myanmar. There is a deep fear of being copied, cheated, or replaced or of water being added to your milk. This extends into an underlying scepticism about farmers and authenticity, as we have been asked “is it really organic?" far too many times. People are surprised that we do not have formal agreements with our farmers that define expectations and standards. But that approach has always felt wrong to us. It treats farms and people like checklists rather than living systems.

In practice, we choose who we work with through conversation. It is hard to fake passion, especially in organic farming, which can be so challenging. When we speak with farmers, there is a shared energy as we talk about what we have tried, what has worked, what has failed, the animals we have noticed, and the changes in climate we are all observing. We talk about why they chose organic farming in the first place. For some it is about reducing costs, for others human health, for others care for the planet. When the values align, trust comes naturally.

I first met Peter in 2017. He was overflowing with permaculture* quotes, and his care for all living things was as present as the sun in the sky. The farm began as a kitchen garden project when Peter and his wife Nana were working for the Lisu Church. They found early success growing organically, and over time their work has sent positive ripples across the country.

Their main farm just outside Pyin Oo Lwin is a green haven. Their 6 acres of production are managed by the eldest daughter Mimi and Nana, supported by Peter and the two younger daughters, Lili and Yiyi. Fruit trees, flowers, winding paths, and abundant vegetable beds fill the space. Each year we wait eagerly for their strawberries. They arrive later than others, but they are always the sweetest. The farm is a living, breathing place of rest, inspiration, and learning. It has hosted a wide range of visitors over the years and is infused with the family’s warmth and generosity. We are proud to be recognised as connected to them.

Despite working together for many years, it had been a long time since we were able to visit. Finally we managed to go in August 2025 and it felt like a family reunion. We shared a long lunch, deep conversations, and a visit to their more recent second site where they are exploring agroforestry. The farm felt even more vibrant than when I first visited in 2017.

These days, many of our conversations revolve around soil. The soil tests have added another layer of understanding on our farm visits, revealing the uniqueness of each farm and the strategies farmers are using. They have opened the door to new possibilities. In our conversations we hear Mimi and Nana's plans and hopes, and how the soil tests are becoming a useful tool for reflection and decision making.

Going back to the topic of trust, we understand why it can be difficult. Not everyone can visit the farms that grow their food. Not everyone can meet their farmers or take the time to understand organic systems. We do not ask our farmers for organic certificates as we don't believe certification is the answer in Myanmar. It is exclusionary and often values compliance over care.

Instead, we hope our farmers’ Healthy Soil dashboards and stories can offer another path. One built on transparency, evidence through practice and improvement, and trust formed through connection and shared learning.

From working with Niko Family Farm, we have witnessed how trust, care and openness create conditions where life can flourish. The result is sweet strawberries, resilient farms, and relationships strong enough to carry us through uncertain times.

Check out Niko Family Farm's Healthy Soil Dashboard to learn more.

*Permaculture is a way of designing farms and communities that work with nature, not against it. It mimics natural ecosystems by building healthy soils, supporting biodiversity, and creating systems where plants, animals, and people all benefit.