Image: Sophia, co-founder of Kokkoya Organics. (Aye Pyae Sone/CPI)
“I feel like a dandelion seed that has fallen to the ground,” Sophia says, her voice calm but determined. “As the wind blows, the seeds scatter. If they land in the right place, they can grow again. People only see the plant above ground, but the roots, the struggles, they are invisible.”
When Sophia co-founded Kokkoya Organics in 2017, Yangon was in a moment of optimism. A wave of entrepreneurship and civil society activity was sweeping across Myanmar. Sophia, who had studied Traditional Chinese Medicine in China, found inspiration during a training at an organic farm school outside the city.
There, she encountered the idea of Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) — a model where farmers and consumers form a direct partnership. Consumers, or members, subscribe in installments or pay an upfront fee, and in return, receive a regular share of fresh, seasonal produce. “I was fascinated,” Sophia recalls, “but at that time, no one was doing it here. It was all theory, no practice.”
Together with co-founder Caity, she launched Kokkoya in a rented space in North Dagon township. The farm took its name from the kokko (rain) trees shading the land. “It means ‘farm with kokko trees,’” Sophia explains. “And it was easy to remember.”
Kokkoya is more than a place to grow vegetables—it’s an effort to reconnect people with nature, promote healthier food systems, and foster environmental stewardship in Myanmar’s largest city.
“When we started, we wanted to educate city children who didn’t know where rice came from,” Sophia says. “We believed urban farming could become a place of learning, not just production.”
From the outset, Kokkoya Organics embraced sustainability. The team grew seedlings themselves, avoided chemical pesticides, and shared techniques with partner farmers. “We believe that cultivation should not deplete the soil but rather replenish it,” she says.
The farm also became a platform for women’s empowerment. “We started with five women,” Sophia recalls. “Today, we have a team of about ten. We train young people because we want to create opportunities.”
The journey hasn’t been easy. In 2019, the farm had to move to a new location in Thingangyun township when their lease wasn’t renewed. Then came COVID-19, followed by the escalating unrest that has gripped Myanmar since 2021, bringing political and economic instability. “Our subscription membership dropped from 200 to almost zero,” Sophia shares.
As their incomes fell, customers could no longer afford to prioritize organic produce. “Most people are struggling too much to think about whether a vegetable is organic or not,” Sophia says frankly.
Kokkoya had to adapt. They launched a café on the farm, offered space for relaxation and mental wellness, and leaned into educational field trips and workshops to generate income. “We shifted our focus,” Sophia says. “Now we provide a space for people to come, relax, and forget their worries—at least for a while.”
In late 2024, Community Partners International partner, Community Partners Myanmar (CPM), provided Kokkoya Organics with a social impact seed fund to support their promotion of organic food production, community resilience, environmental stewardship, and sustainable practices.
CPM’s social impact investments empower individuals and micro, small, and medium enterprises to grow sustainably while delivering social and environmental impact. With this support, the Kokkoya team has expanded their farm into a green hub and education center, demonstrating good agricultural practices and offering training on soil health, seeding, plant care, and composting.
Kokkoya’s mission extends beyond its own fields. Sophia and her team work with organic farmers in the surrounding region and further afield, helping connect their produce to urban markets in Yangon. “We help distribute their products and offer our customers more variety,” she explains.
In recent years, they’ve also responded to community needs: from training women to make eco-friendly packaging from newspapers to distributing water from their solar-powered pump after the recent earthquake. “We’ve always tried to do what we can,” Sophia says. “Sometimes small things can make a big impact.”
Despite the challenges, Kokkoya Organics continues to look ahead. Sophia’s current focus is on a research project that supports farmers with a basic income so they can experiment with organic methods without the pressure of immediate profit. “When farmers have a stable income, they can test seedlings, try composting. They can innovate,” she says.
But the future is uncertain. The farm sits on rented land. The economy is fragile. The political situation remains volatile. “We don’t know how long we’ll have this space,” Sophia admits. “But we keep going.”
Kokkoya Organics is more than a project. It’s a testament to resilience, creativity, and hope in the face of adversity. Their story reminds us that even in the harshest environments, it is possible to plant seeds of change.
Interviews have been edited for clarity, brevity, and flow.
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