Approaches

Advisory system for planting Eucalyptus camaldulensis on rice bunds in salt-affected areas. [Thailand]

approaches_4103 - Thailand

Completeness: 100%

1. General information

1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Key resource person(s)

land user:

Chearnchai Sayan

Ban Muang Pia, Muang Pia Sub-disdrict, Ban Phai District, Khon Kaen Province

Thailand

land user:

Pannut Pensri

Ban Muang Pia, Muang Pia Sub-disdrict, Ban Phai District, Khon Kaen Province

Thailand

land user:

Kraisuea Perm

Ban Muang Pia, Muang Pia Sub-disdrict, Ban Phai District, Khon Kaen Province

Thailand

land user:

Mulae Sommart

Ban Muang Pia, Muang Pia Sub-disdrict, Ban Phai District, Khon Kaen Province

Thailand

land user:

Leelarat Wasana

+66-94-2988728

Ban Muang Pia, Muang Pia Sub-disdrict, Ban Phai District, Khon Kaen Province

Thailand

land user:

Chuenjai Sompong

Ban Muang Pia, Muang Pia Sub-disdrict, Ban Phai District, Khon Kaen Province

Thailand

SLM specialist:

Srihaban Pranee

pranee.782@gmail.com

Land Development Department

2003, 61 Phaholyothin Road, Ladyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900

Thailand

SLM specialist:

Sritumboon Supranee

ssritumboon@yahoo.com

Land Development Department

2003, 61 Phaholyothin Road, Ladyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900

Thailand

SLM specialist:

Pothinam Pornpana

laosuwan18@hotmail.com

Land Development Department

2003, 61 Phaholyothin Road, Ladyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900

Thailand

SLM specialist:

Rophandung Weera

weerop@hotmail.com

Land Development Department

2003, 61 Phaholyothin Road, Ladyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900

Thailand

SLM specialist:

Jakkarach Usa

usa_kl@hotmail.com

Land Development Department

2003, 61 Phaholyothin Road, Ladyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900

Thailand

SLM specialist:

Janplang Chettaruj

joeshua9@hotmail.com

Land Development Department

2003, 61 Phaholyothin Road, Ladyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900

Thailand

SLM specialist:

Thamphinon Krainukun

+66-89-9449829

krainukt@scg.com

Phoenix Pulp and Paper Plc Ltd.

Kutnamsai Sub-district, Nam Phong District, Khon Kaen Province

Thailand

SLM specialist:

Tharachom Thawatchai

+66-81-9172140

thawatct@scg.com

Phoenix Pulp and Paper Plc Ltd.

Kutnamsai Sub-district, Nam Phong District, Khon Kaen Province

Thailand

National consultant:

Arunin Somsri

ssarunin@gmail.com

Land Development Department

2003, 61 Phaholyothin Road, Ladyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900

Thailand

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)
Decision Support for Mainstreaming and Scaling out Sustainable Land Management (GEF-FAO / DS-SLM)
Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)
Land Development Department LDD (Land Development Department LDD) - Thailand

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

26/09/2018

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Reference(s) to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Technologies

Planting Eucalyptus on rice bunds to lower saline groundwater
technologies

Planting Eucalyptus on rice bunds to lower saline … [Thailand]

Eucalyptus camaldulensis variety H4 is salt tolerant and has the ability to lower shallow saline groundwater levels; as a result salinity is controlled. Planting eucalyptus on one or two sides of the rice bund in an east-west direction (in single or double rows) at a spacing of 2 m between …

  • Compiler: Areerat Wangkaew

2. Description of the SLM Approach

2.1 Short description of the Approach

The Thai government promotes planting of Eucalyptus camaldulensis on rice bunds to lower the saline groundwater level and prevent the spread of salt in soils - through cooperation of farmers, land owners, Siam Forestry Co., Ltd., Subdistrict Administration Organization, Land Development Department, and with specialists/ technical advisors.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives through the Land Development Department (LDD) has initiated a project on planting salt-tolerant perennial trees on salt-affected land in the Northeast of Thailand. Thus, this project, which began in 1996 facilitated planting Eucalyptus camaldulensis on rice bunds. The main objective of the approach is to encourage and support the land users to plant Eucalyptus camaldulensis on rice bunds in salt-affected land with shallow saline groundwater. The target of planting is 1,000 rai/yr (1 ha = 6.25 rai).

The activities started with public meetings under the local administration, identifying salt-affected areas by SLM specialists and preparing soil salinity maps; establishing demonstration plots by SLM specialists and farmers, on farmers' land, as learning centers and communicating. The local administration called farmers’ meetings to prepare detailed work plans and discussion of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of planting eucalyptus. The methods used were questionnaires and interviewing the stakeholders for their willingness to take part and cooperate with LDD SLM specialists, researchers, and experts. The LDD has provided funding for land preparation and planting cost while corporates such as Siam Forestry Co., Ltd. purchase eucalyptus poles through a contract. The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives provides loans to land users.

There are three phases: the preparation phase which was seedling preparation, site selection for establishment of a demonstration plot, rice bund preparation, and establishing a demonstration plot of 200 rai at Ban Kham Riang, Muang Pia Sub-district, Banphai District, Khon Kaen Province. The coordination phase included joint meetings between farmers and researchers, joint monitoring, evaluation and follow-up with land users, and site visits to the demonstration plot. Then planting and tree establishment on farmers’ land in the salt-affected area – those farmers who were convinced by the results of the demonstration plots, Those farmers were then supported by the project on Planting Salt-Tolerant Perennial Trees on Saline Soils in the Northeast of Thailand. A market was established for the purchase of logs. There was joint monitoring & evaluation and follow up.

Results from interviews show that land users favor this project and the spread of eucalyptus planting by themselves - due to the perceived decrease in salination as well as higher income from better rice production, plus additional income from selling poles. However, there are some negative effects of fallen eucalyptus leaves (some farmers believe eucalyptus produces organic compounds detrimental to rice yield through “allelopathy”) and there was shading of the rice crop. But in some site visits there were no effects found. Furthermore, the favorable microclimate is cooler, local earth worms which used to be absent now returning, resulting in better soil properties. However, more birds and rats dwelling in this better environment became a disadvantage because they damaged the rice yield. Nevertheless, as there are more advantages than disadvantages, farmers still adopt this technology. It has been found that more than 10,000 rai (1,600 ha) with shallow saline groundwater of the salt-affected land were planted with eucalyptus trees on rice bunds in the low-lying salt-affected discharge area.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.4 Videos of the Approach

Comments, short description:

SLM discussion and explanation

Date:

26/09/2018

Location:

Ban Muang Pia

Name of videographer:

Supranee Sritumboon

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

Country:

Thailand

Region/ State/ Province:

Khon Kaen

Further specification of location:

Ban Phai

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

Indicate year of initiation:

2009

Comments:

This approach has been used since 1996 until now (the LDD project started in 1996 but the land user interviewed started planting Eucalyptus in 2009).

2.7 Type of Approach

  • project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The main objective of the approach is to reduce salinity by encouraging and supporting land users to plant Eucalyptus camaldulensis, with a planting target of 1,000 rai/year (1 ha = 6.25 rai).

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

social/ cultural/ religious norms and values
  • enabling

The land users follow what their neighbours practice.

availability/ access to financial resources and services
  • enabling

Farmers outside the project may get loan from the Bank for Agriculture and Cooperatives.

institutional setting
  • enabling

Local administration

collaboration/ coordination of actors
  • enabling

Coordinators of the project are soil doctor volunteers and community leaders in the area.

legal framework (land tenure, land and water use rights)
  • enabling
policies
  • enabling

The government has a policy of preventing soil degradation.

land governance (decision-making, implementation and enforcement)
  • enabling
knowledge about SLM, access to technical support
  • enabling

To provide knowledge for land users in the area.

markets (to purchase inputs, sell products) and prices
  • enabling

Through corporate contract

workload, availability of manpower
  • enabling

For land users under the project

3. Participation and roles of stakeholders involved

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

  • local land users/ local communities

Farmers under the project

Planting eucalyptus

  • community-based organizations

Local government (Sub-district Administration Organization)

Call for meeting

  • SLM specialists/ agricultural advisers

Land Development Department

Site selection

  • researchers

Land Development Department

Provide technical recommendation

  • private sector

Siam Forestry Co., Ltd.

Purchase logs

  • national government (planners, decision-makers)

Land Development Department

Funding, planner, decision-makers

If several stakeholders were involved, indicate lead agency:

Land Development Department

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach
Involvement of local land users/ local communities Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation interactive Land users in the project based
planning passive Discussion with land users on the work plan before starting the activity.
implementation interactive Land users/farmers in the project
monitoring/ evaluation passive Land users in the project

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

Description:

Process of participating technology development of 3 phases including preparation, coordination and planting action.

Author:

Stakeholders concerned

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:
  • mainly SLM specialists, following consultation with land users
Explain:

SLM specialists locate salt-affected areas where shallow saline groundwater area is found. They then consult with land users to agree with the set technology and the shared benefit between LDD in combating salinity problem as well as their additional income with better soil and favorable microclimate.

Specify on what basis decisions were made:
  • evaluation of well-documented SLM knowledge (evidence-based decision-making)

4. Technical support, capacity building, and knowledge management

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:
  • land users
Form of training:
  • demonstration areas
  • public meetings
Subjects covered:

Reclamation and prevention for salt-affected land with available technology and increased income for farmers.

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:
  • on land users' fields
Describe/ comments:

1. Community soil doctor volunteers from Land Development Department provide knowledge by training farmers in the area.
2. SLM specialists from Land Development Department and specialists of Siam Forestry Co., Ltd. visited and advised farmers in the area.

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?
  • no

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

SLM specialists from Land Development Department collaborated with Siam Forestry Co., Ltd. and community soil doctor volunteers on the soil conditions, the survival rate and follow up the growth of plants in the area.

If yes, is this documentation intended to be used for monitoring and evaluation?

Yes

Comments:

There are various points in this document that are interesting and should be adapted for each area to use for evaluation.

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Yes

Specify topics:
  • technology
Give further details and indicate who did the research:

The Soil Salinity Research Group, LDD, conducted research on saline groundwater flow path along the landscape in Northeast Thailand with Prof.Dr. Adrian Peck from University of Western Australia, supported by Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and another project with Dr. Nico Marcar from Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) on screening for salt-tolerant trees.

5. Financing and external material support

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:
  • 2,000-10,000
Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

Land Development Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC), Thailand

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

Yes

If yes, specify type(s) of support, conditions, and provider(s):

Assistance in kind, labour cost and seedling supply.

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

  • labour
To which extent Specify subsidies
fully financed Rice bund widening as establishment labour cost subsidized by LDD while planting and maintenance costs born by land users.
  • agricultural
Specify which inputs were subsidised To which extent Specify subsidies
seedling fully financed Free seedlings
If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:
  • voluntary
Comments:

Voluntary labour from land users for planting and maintenance has been calculated as labour cost even though LDD did not pay for the labour.

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

5.5 Other incentives or instruments

Were other incentives or instruments used to promote implementation of SLM Technologies?

Yes

If yes, specify:

1. The policy of Siam Forestry Co., Ltd. to expand the planting area as a source of raw materials for industry and the company organizes a market in the area.
2. This technology encourages farmers to easily access their capital sources such as Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, while the LDD will send the work plan and names of participating land users to the bank.

6. Impact analysis and concluding statements

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

Did the Approach empower local land users, improve stakeholder participation?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Strengthening relationship between local government administration and land users.

Did the Approach enable evidence-based decision-making?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Establish learning center for information to farmers for technology adoption.

Did the Approach help land users to implement and maintain SLM Technologies?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Farmers well adopted the technology, resulting in expansion of the areas for such technology.

Did the Approach mobilize/ improve access to financial resources for SLM implementation?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Land users access to the bank loan supported by LDD project work plan as well as the names of the land users presented to the bank.

Did the Approach improve knowledge and capacities of land users to implement SLM?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Farmers have adapted and changed SLM model to suit their own preference.

Did the Approach improve knowledge and capacities of other stakeholders?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

There are many other technologies that reduce salinity carried out by LDD.

Did the Approach lead to improved food security/ improved nutrition?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Increased rice yield due to the decrease of soil salinity, resulting in farmers getting higher incomes.

Did the Approach improve access to markets?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Siam Forestry Co., Ltd. establishes market in the area for the purchase of the product.

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

  • increased production

Increase varieties of products in the area (rice, eucalyptus, livestock).

  • reduced land degradation

Decrease salinity in the soil.

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?
  • yes
If yes, describe how:

Farmers have a better understanding and positive attitude of planting eucalyptus, since they obtain additional income from selling eucalyptus logs.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Community soil doctor volunteer and community leader are the coordinators in the area.
Farmers access to markets and sources of Eucalyptus seedlings easily.
LDD officers have continually surveyed and followed up in the area.
Distribute seedlings free of charge.
Good marketing for the purchase and sale in the area.
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
A supported technique created to develop technology to suit landscape in the Northeast area.
Planting eucalyptus knowledge was provided regularly by the Land Development Department and Siam Forestry Co., Ltd.
Siam Forestry Co., Ltd. develop marketing covering the Northeast region.
A demonstration plot established in the area.

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view How can they be overcome?
The LDD officers do not visit when the land users need help. The officers need to contact the land users and give advice more often.
More birds and rats attack rice seeds in the field. Set up crow scaring; some farmers catch birds and rats to eat.
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view How can they be overcome?
Farmers planted closer spacing of 1 m, expecting to get more wood product, regardless of the adverse effect on rice. Clearly illustrate the adverse effect of closer spacing of plants.
Income from logs is considered too low. Changing crops such as olives, figs, dates, pomegranate, etc.

7. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

  • interviews with land users

7 participating farmers

  • interviews with SLM specialists/ experts

2 officers from Land Development Department

  • Stakeholders, local government, and private company

2 officers from Siam Forestry Co., Ltd. and 1 officer from Sub-district Administration Organization

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Land Development Department

Available from where? Costs?

http://www.ldd.go.th/

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Planting Eucalyptus on rice bunds: Better way for the Northeast farmers

URL:

http://www.ldd.go.th/

Title/ description:

Eucalyptus : New opportunity by Siam Forestry

URL:

http://www.scgpackaging.com/others/forestry/eucalyptus/TH

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