Technologies

Organic Farming on a Moderate Hillside Slope [Thailand]

เกษตรอินทรีย์บนพื้นที่ลาดเชิงเขา

technologies_4242 - Thailand

Completeness: 96%

1. General information

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

Key resource person(s)

co-compiler:
ผู้รวบรวม:
land user:

Mongkolkanjanakul Phatphong

-

Thailand

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

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

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

Comments:

The farmer is able to apply the technology himself/ herself

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches (documented using WOCAT)

Natural Agriculture Club
approaches

Natural Agriculture Club [Thailand]

The Natural Agriculture Club is a group of farmers who conduct organic farming on sloping land. An organic farming technology transfer centre has been established.

  • Compiler: Kukiat SOITONG

2. Description of the SLM Technology

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Organic farming on moderate hillside slopes protects the land, soil and water to produce sustainable and safe and natural farm products without the use of chemicals.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Farming on sandy and gravelly sloping hillsides without soil and water conservation (SWC) measures causes erosion and thus reduces soil fertility. Any area grown to monocrops, such as maize, for a long time using high rates of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, will leave toxic residues in the products, becoming harmful to farmers’ and consumers’ health. Organic farming with the SWC measures is a solution. There are key elements to organic farming technology on sloping area. Soil fertility can be improved by growing leguminous green manures as well as applying compost. A farm should be divided by slope gradient for proper management in each zone. There should be ponds dug for water supply. An organic farm needs a buffer zone to help to control diseases and insects. Finally, weed control should be done by a mechanical method, leaving residues for mulching.

Organic farming in these areas restores soil fertility, balances the ecology and increases biodiversity, as well as reducing costs and generating more income. There are health benefits too. Procedures are as follows:
1. Increasing soil fertility: Grow green manure crops (jack bean and sunn hemp) alternately 6 times a year for 2 years. Incorporate the compost made from farm residues and the bio-fermented solution in the soil.
2. Zone management: The farming area should be divided by the slope zones for SWC measures and crop management. Grow vetiver grass on slopes to slow the flow of water, to trap sediment and to control insect pests. The farm should be divided into two parts. For moderately sloping hillsides area one should grow bamboo, fruit trees, and/or home-use forest, and for flatter areas one may grow bananas, papaya, vegetables, guava, herbs, fruits tree, etc.
3. On-farm water resources: Make an on-farm water resource by digging ponds and/or drilling groundwater for farming and home use. If a sprinkler system is installed; bio-fermented soil amendment solution is applied through the process of fertigation (nutrients in irrigation water).
4. The Buffer Zone is built by planting bamboo and trees to trap chemicals that might be blown through that space. The Buffer Zone width is 3-5 meters.
5. Pest control is carried out by using bio-fermented solution LDD 7.
6. Weed control is done by mechanical means, resulting in material to use for mulching and to increase organic matter.
7. Do farm accounting to know the cost of investment and of farm management.

To farmers there are some benefits from organic farming: soil becomes more fertile, cost of production is reduced, farm products are safe and meet the market’s demand, and the producers’ and consumers’ health is better. There is good cooperation among farmers, government and private agencies involved in the project. The use of the technology gives an opportunity to farmers to achieve the standard for certification. Organic farm products are under the government’s driven policy and there is good cooperation among public and private agencies which eventually increases farmers’ competitiveness.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

General remarks regarding photos:

-

2.4 Videos of the Technology

Comments, short description:

-https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=7&v=5INHx5_Hb6k

Location:

Moo 4 Ban Thungna, Nongpet Sub-district, Srisawat District, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand (หมู่ 4 บ้านทุ่งนา ต. หนองเป็ด อ. ศรีสวัสดิ์ จ. กาญบุรี)

Name of videographer:

-

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

Country:

Thailand

Region/ State/ Province:

Kanchanaburi

Further specification of location:

Moo4 Ban Thungna Tambon Nongpet Srisawat District Kanchanaburi province

Specify the spread of the Technology:
  • applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area
Comments:

-

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2004

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:
  • through projects/ external interventions
Comments (type of project, etc.):

DOAE

3. Classification of the SLM Technology

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

  • improve production
  • reduce, prevent, restore land degradation

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Cropland

Cropland

  • Perennial (non-woody) cropping
  • Tree and shrub cropping
  • mango Papya Coconut guava bamboo
Grazing land

Grazing land

Comments:

-

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Comments:

-

3.4 Water supply

other (e.g. post-flooding):
  • underground water well
Comments:

-

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

  • windbreak/ shelterbelt
  • integrated crop-livestock management
  • integrated soil fertility management

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

agronomic measures

  • A2: Organic matter/ soil fertility
vegetative measures

vegetative measures

  • V1: Tree and shrub cover
Comments:

-

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

soil erosion by water

  • Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion
chemical soil deterioration

chemical soil deterioration

  • Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content (not caused by erosion)
biological degradation

biological degradation

  • Bq: quantity/ biomass decline
Comments:

-

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:
  • prevent land degradation
  • reduce land degradation

4. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

Procedures for the implementation of organic farming systems on sloping areas are as follow:
1. Increasing soil fertility (integrated use of mixed green manure with bio-fermented solution and compost): Grow green manure crops (jack bean and sunn hemp) alternately 6 times a year for 2 years. In practice, the sun hemp seed is sown at a rate of 5 kg/rai, let the plants grow and plow them over after 50-60 days. After that, spray bio-fermented solution (from fruit-vegetable mixture, treated with microorganisms) at a rate of 5 l bio-solution mixed with 100 l of water for an area of 1 rai. Let the decomposition go on for 12-15 days. Then grow jack bean at a rate 5-8 kg/rai in rows with row spacing of 75-100 cm and do the rest the same as for the sunn hemp. Finally, incorporate the compost made from farm residues and the bio-fermented solution in the soil.
2. The area management: The farming area should be divided by the slope grade for SWC measures and crop management. It is wise to grow the vetiver grass on a sloping area to slow down the flow of water, to trap sediment and to control insect pests. The farm area should be divided into two parts. For the moderate sloping hillside area one should grow bamboo, fruit tree, and/or home-use forest and for the plain area one may grow bananas, papaya, vegetables, guava, herbs, fruits tree, etc.
3. On-farm water resources: Making an on-farm water resource by digging ponds and/or drilling groundwater for farming and home use. The farming area is 34 rai, with a sprinkler system being installed; the bio-fermented solution is applied through the system.
4. The Buffer Zone is built by planting bamboo and home-use trees. In the area that such vegetations could not be planted, put the shading slant up to 2.5 m high, to trap the chemicals that might be blown through that space. The Buffer Zone width is 3-5 m.
5. Pest control is done by using bio-fermented solution LDD 7.
6. Weed control is done by a mechanical means, resulting in having material to use for mulching and to increase the organic matter.
7. Do farm accounting to know the cost of investment and of farm management.

Author:

Department of Agricultural Extension 2559

Date:

2016

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:
  • per Technology area
Indicate size and area unit:

39 Rai

If using a local area unit, indicate conversion factor to one hectare (e.g. 1 ha = 2.47 acres): 1 ha =:

6.25rai

other/ national currency (specify):

(THB)

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

32.0

Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:

300 THB

4.3 Establishment activities

Activity Timing (season)
1. amelioration before planting
2. water system dry season
3. weed control growing period
4. Pest control growing period
5. Buffer zone rainy season
6. vetiver grass growing rainy season
7. farm accounting all year round

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Specify input Unit Quantity Costs per Unit Total costs per input % of costs borne by land users
Labour sunn hemp growing time 2.0 900.0 1800.0 100.0
Labour ploughing time 2.0 900.0 1800.0 100.0
Labour bio fermented solution spray time 2.0 900.0 1800.0 100.0
Labour applied compost time 1.0 1800.0 1800.0 100.0
Equipment applied Dolomite time 1.0 1600.0 1600.0 100.0
Equipment applied compost time 1.0 9000.0 9000.0 100.0
Equipment weed control time 8.0 9600.0 76800.0 100.0
Equipment pest control time 24.0 600.0 14400.0 100.0
Equipment shade net as buffer zone pc 2.0 600.0 1200.0 100.0
Equipment tree growing as buffer zone time 2.0 600.0 1200.0 100.0
Equipment maintenance/cutting vetiver grass leaf time 8.0 900.0 7200.0 100.0
Equipment accessories of underground water well pc 3.0 30000.0 90000.0 100.0
Plant material shade net pc 2.0 1700.0 3400.0 100.0
Plant material sunn hemp seed kg 63.0 33.0 2079.0 100.0
Plant material tree seedling for buffer zone plant 100.0 10.0 1000.0 100.0
Plant material vetiver grass seedling plant 150000.0 0.73 109500.0 100.0
Fertilizers and biocides land preparation
Fertilizers and biocides bio fermented solution litre 50.0 20.0 1000.0 100.0
Fertilizers and biocides Dolomite kg 4200.0 4.0 16800.0 100.0
Fertilizers and biocides compost kg 5500.0 4.0 22000.0 100.0
Fertilizers and biocides pesticide litre 50.0 30.0 1500.0 100.0
Other land preparation
Other land preparation rai 21.0 500.0 10500.0 100.0
Other under ground water well well 3.0 70000.0 210000.0 100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology 586379.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD 18324.34
If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

-

Comments:

-

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Activity Timing/ frequency
1. irrigation system 2 times a year before and after rainy season
2. weed control 12 times a year during cropping season
3. pest control 12 times a year during cropping season
4. buffer zone 2 times a year before and after cropping season
5. vetiver grass 12 times a year during cropping season
Comments:

-

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

Specify input Unit Quantity Costs per Unit Total costs per input % of costs borne by land users
Labour weed control time 8.0 1200.0 9600.0 100.0
Labour pest control time 24.0 600.0 14400.0 100.0
Labour buffer zone maintenance time 6.0 300.0 1800.0 100.0
Labour cutting vetiver grass row time 8.0 900.0 7200.0 100.0
Other electricity for irrigation month 12.0 500.0 6000.0 100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology 39000.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD 1218.75
If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

-

Comments:

-

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Utility bills, electricity, drilling an artesian well and system, labour and transportation cost

5. Natural and human environment

5.1 Climate

Annual rainfall
  • < 250 mm
  • 251-500 mm
  • 501-750 mm
  • 751-1,000 mm
  • 1,001-1,500 mm
  • 1,501-2,000 mm
  • 2,001-3,000 mm
  • 3,001-4,000 mm
  • > 4,000 mm
Specify average annual rainfall (if known), in mm:

1600.00

Specifications/ comments on rainfall:

This is a rain shadow area, a few rain events, very hot during summer and very cold in winter, max temp 44-45 degree celsius in April, minimum temp in December 8-9 degree Celsius, average temp 27 degree celsius rainy season starting April until mid-October.

Indicate the name of the reference meteorological station considered:

-

Agro-climatic zone
  • humid

-

5.2 Topography

Slopes on average:
  • flat (0-2%)
  • gentle (3-5%)
  • moderate (6-10%)
  • rolling (11-15%)
  • hilly (16-30%)
  • steep (31-60%)
  • very steep (>60%)
Landforms:
  • plateau/plains
  • ridges
  • mountain slopes
  • hill slopes
  • footslopes
  • valley floors
Altitudinal zone:
  • 0-100 m a.s.l.
  • 101-500 m a.s.l.
  • 501-1,000 m a.s.l.
  • 1,001-1,500 m a.s.l.
  • 1,501-2,000 m a.s.l.
  • 2,001-2,500 m a.s.l.
  • 2,501-3,000 m a.s.l.
  • 3,001-4,000 m a.s.l.
  • > 4,000 m a.s.l.
Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:
  • concave situations
Comments and further specifications on topography:

The majority of land is plateau plain close to SriNaklarin Dam Topography is lime stone mountain and sediment stone Highest point 1,100 meters above sea level, average high is 400 meters

5.3 Soils

Soil depth on average:
  • very shallow (0-20 cm)
  • shallow (21-50 cm)
  • moderately deep (51-80 cm)
  • deep (81-120 cm)
  • very deep (> 120 cm)
Soil texture (topsoil):
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Soil texture (> 20 cm below surface):
  • fine/ heavy (clay)
Topsoil organic matter:
  • medium (1-3%)

5.4 Water availability and quality

Ground water table:

> 50 m

Availability of surface water:

good

Water quality (untreated):

for agricultural use only (irrigation)

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

-

5.5 Biodiversity

Species diversity:
  • medium
Habitat diversity:
  • medium
Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

-

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Sedentary or nomadic:
  • Sedentary
Market orientation of production system:
  • mixed (subsistence/ commercial)
Off-farm income:
  • less than 10% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
  • average
Individuals or groups:
  • individual/ household
Level of mechanization:
  • manual work
Gender:
  • men
Age of land users:
  • middle-aged
Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

-

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

  • < 0.5 ha
  • 0.5-1 ha
  • 1-2 ha
  • 2-5 ha
  • 5-15 ha
  • 15-50 ha
  • 50-100 ha
  • 100-500 ha
  • 500-1,000 ha
  • 1,000-10,000 ha
  • > 10,000 ha
Is this considered small-, medium- or large-scale (referring to local context)?
  • large-scale
Comments:

-

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:
  • individual, titled
Land use rights:
  • individual
Water use rights:
  • individual
Specify:

-

Comments:

-

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

health:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
education:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
technical assistance:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
employment (e.g. off-farm):
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
markets:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
energy:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
roads and transport:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
drinking water and sanitation:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
financial services:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
Comments:

-

6. Impacts and concluding statements

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

crop production

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

-

crop quality

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

-

animal production

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

-

product diversity

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

-

land management

hindered
simplified
Comments/ specify:

-

Water availability and quality

drinking water quality

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

-

Income and costs

expenses on agricultural inputs

increased
decreased
Comments/ specify:

-

farm income

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

-

diversity of income sources

decreased
increased

workload

increased
decreased
Comments/ specify:

-

Socio-cultural impacts

food security/ self-sufficiency

reduced
improved
Comments/ specify:

-

health situation

worsened
improved
Comments/ specify:

-

community institutions

weakened
strengthened
Comments/ specify:

-

SLM/ land degradation knowledge

reduced
improved
Comments/ specify:

-

Ecological impacts

Soil

soil moisture

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

-

soil loss

increased
decreased
Comments/ specify:

-

nutrient cycling/ recharge

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

-

soil organic matter/ below ground C

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

-

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

plant diversity

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

-

Climate and disaster risk reduction

drought impacts

increased
decreased
Comments/ specify:

-

emission of carbon and greenhouse gases

increased
decreased
Comments/ specify:

-

fire risk

increased
decreased
Comments/ specify:

-

wind velocity

increased
decreased
Comments/ specify:

-

Specify assessment of on-site impacts (measurements):

-

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

downstream siltation

increased
decreased
Comments/ specify:

-

groundwater/ river pollution

increased
reduced
Comments/ specify:

-

damage on neighbours' fields

increased
reduced
Comments/ specify:

-

Specify assessment of off-site impacts (measurements):

-

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change
Season increase or decrease How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature decrease moderately
seasonal temperature decrease moderately
annual rainfall moderately
seasonal rainfall moderately

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters
How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm moderately
Climatological disasters
How does the Technology cope with it?
drought well
forest fire moderately
Biological disasters
How does the Technology cope with it?
epidemic diseases not well

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences
How does the Technology cope with it?
extended growing period not well
reduced growing period well
Comments:

-

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?
Short-term returns:

slightly negative

Long-term returns:

positive

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?
Short-term returns:

neutral/ balanced

Long-term returns:

positive

Comments:

-

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

  • 1-10%
If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

10 ครัวเรือน

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?
  • 0-10%
Comments:

-

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

Yes

other (specify):

adjust the expenditure ,must more saving approach and keeping more details

Specify adaptation of the Technology (design, material/ species, etc.):

Reduce the use of energy by using solar cell for water pump.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
More fertility in the agricultural production area
Cost reduction
Safe food production
Higher price of products
Farmers/consumers have better health
Good transportation and easy access to the market
More opportunity to learn and to get more knowledge
Better cooperation among supporting agencies from both public and private sectors
The standard of product certification gives confidence to markets and create good demand for the products from them.
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The public policy supports the organic agriculture.
Cooperation among farmers and the public sectors makes more chance and competitiveness of production.

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view How can they be overcome?
Organic agriculture takes longer time than normal find out the technology to be the solution
Need more Buffer Zone to protect the effect from outside fields need any regulation to support and protect the organic production area/zone
Organic product certification takes time and many steps related agencies ) related agencies should try to reduce the time and improve the process of certification
More labour and time to provide raw material in making organic fertilizers explore other alternatives, e.g. local materials and sources, to reduce the cost of production
Misunderstanding/confused on organic products by consumers to do more public relations and/or campaign
High cost of production and no difference in the prices of organic and general products related organizations should do more public relations to increase the understanding of the public
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view How can they be overcome?
Lack of systematic land use planning farmer give more information and knowledge
Misunderstanding /lack of knowledge on soil improvement of organic farmers more training
Lack of organic supply chain and marketing of organic farmers more information and make it easy to access
Pricing and price volatility of organic products are a major problem of organic farming public and related agencies should help in supervising/or making a control system

7. References and links

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 online information

Title/ description:

-

7.4 General comments

-

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