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

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

12/09/2018

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

Yes

2.1 Short description of the Approach

The promotion of a model that supports sustainable cultivation outside the protected forest area in the northern highlands of Thailand. The model is based on the knowledge of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama 9). It is a prototype model of the Institute of Sufficiency Economy and the Foundation for Natural Agriculture, and uses the New Theory Approach in Agriculture to build a self-sufficiency economy.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

This is the approach that supports "returning life" to the Mae Chaem area by an integrated land and water management system in the highlands, through the King Rama 9 initiative combined with local wisdom: or the "Khok-Nong-Na model". Most of this area is in Mae Chaem Reserved National Forest, an upstream watershed which is strictly preserved as forest and does not officially allow people to live and cultivate. However, communities have been earning their living there for a long time before the reserved forest law was announced, which deprived them of the right to own the land and use it for agriculture. Previously all land users earned income by encroaching into Mae Chaem National Forest Reserve - and converting it into maize, shallot and cabbage fields. The forest area was intruded upon, making the soil erode, and therefore soil fertility and productivity decreased. The integrated water management system by King Rama 9’s initiative together with local wisdom, is a prototype model at the Sufficiency Economy Institute and the Natural Agriculture Foundation, supporting the “New Theory of Agriculture” based on a self-sufficiency economy. The Foundation has explained to all land users that this concept called "Khok-Nong-Na" divides the area into 30:30:30:10 portions as follows; 30% for water sources (farm ponds, small water channels), 30% for rice fields, 30% for trees, and 10% for housing and animals. Implementation of Khok-Nong-Na models will depend on the topography of the area are as follow:
1. Upland or "mound" (Khok) is the highland area as part of the mountain or hill to cultivate "three kinds of trees” as forests, namely "three forests, four benefits". “Three kinds of forests” means for consumption, construction and economy, while the fourth benefit is to preserve the ecosystem.
2. Reservoir (Nong), the lowland area as part of water resources, includes the checkdam or weir, the sediment trap, the water channel and the pond, for both consumption and agricultural use. The checkdam or weir in the upper area serves as a storage and to control the flow rate of water. The water channel is designed to deliver water to the pond or reservoir in the lower area.
3. Paddy field (Na) is an important component for rice cultivation because rice is the main staple. Rice terraces are established in the sloping area, with paddy fields in the lowland. The main purpose of rice production is for the farmer family’s consumption - as well as for income. The ridges around the rice terraces field should be high and wide to store greater amounts of water - as the water level in the paddy field can control weeds, accelerate plant growth and improve crop yields. The native rice variety grown in rich soil is immune to diseases and insects.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.4 Videos of the Approach

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

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The integrated land management of Khok-Nong-Na model "returns life to the watershed" by protecting the ecosystem and simultaneously promoting sustainable and productive farming.

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

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

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	external support	All land users normally face drought condition, making them unable to produce agricultural products properly, causing insufficient income and the debts of land users accumulate.
planning	interactive	Mae Chaem District Office set up a project to return life to all land users, so they can join and work together.
implementation	interactive	Land users work together with several networks in Khok-Nong-Na model with support from the Royal Forest Department, Natural Agriculture Study Center, Mae Chaem District Office and Chiang Mai Social Enterprise Company Limited.
monitoring/ evaluation	self-mobilization	Monitor, evaluate and follow up by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives and Natural Agriculture Study Center with local officers in the area.

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

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 land users, supported by SLM specialists

Explain:

All land users had been trained by several agencies, and let they decide the suitable technology to their area.

Specify on what basis decisions were made:

• evaluation of well-documented SLM knowledge (evidence-based decision-making)

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:

• land users

If relevant, specify gender, age, status, ethnicity, etc.

-

Form of training:

• farmer-to-farmer
• demonstration areas
• courses

Subjects covered:

Agricultural development to achieve a self-sufficiency economy system.

Comments:

Training course 5 days and 4 nights before accepting to join the project.

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:

Monitor, evaluate and follow up in the area.

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, moderately

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• local

Describe institution, roles and responsibilities, members, etc.

At present there are 21 household members in the group. There are rules and guidelines that indicate they must hold meetings and work together twice a week.

Specify type of support:

• equipment

Give further details:

Tools to work in the area as spade, shovel, ploughs and also saplings of trees and fruit trees, and the costs for travelling, fuel and food when they work together.

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

Monitor, evaluate and follow up by Natural Agriculture Study Center and also local officers.

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

No

Comments:

-

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

No

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• > 1,000,000

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):

Agricultural equipment for land users to set up Khok-Nong-Na model such as spade, shovel, plough and also saplings of soil, trees and fruit trees by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and Natural Agriculture Study Center.

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• equipment

• agricultural

If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:

• voluntary

Comments:

The community network cooperative work together in their land.

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

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• uncertain

If no or uncertain, specify and comment:

All land users need to understand this model and government sector necessary to support in the early stage of development because they do not have enough budget to start this activity by themselves. Moreover, they have no bargaining power in finance, income and the market.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Improve and restore natural resources, i.e. environment, soil, water, and forest .
This system would save labor, fuel and material cost of pumping water into the fields for fruit trees and various crops.
The network members are harmonious and work together under the regulations and rules.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Many official and private agencies cooperate to work with strong network and community, so land users will use their land for agricultural activities and at the same time they would help in reforestation.
This model will discourage all land users to do their slash-and-burn practice.

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?
Farmers have more work load per day to do it comfortably.	That is good to improve their soil and increase their products and income.
They have not yet started to earn money at this time and have no ability to reduce their debts.	They would like the government to help with their debts.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
At the first stage they cannot produce agricultural products because they do not have enough water.	Local officers should recommend some short-period plants to generate income.
This area has organic and green vegetable market in schools and hospitals nearby but farmers cannot produce sufficiently to serve the demand of that market.	This model should serve to help store more water in their area, to be sufficient for agricultural production.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

=

Available from where? Costs?

=

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Man changes the world SS4 TAPE 28: Mae Chaam model plus (9 Jul 18) 1/3

URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7Bex9ku_qY&feature

Title/ description:

Man changes the world SS4 TAPE 28: Mae Chaam model plus (9 Jul 18) 2/3

URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwY01nOLVvs&feature

Title/ description:

Man changes the world SS4 TAPE 28: Mae Chaam model plus (9 Jul 18) 3/3

URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doiZ8r6Bo9I&feature