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

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Land Development Department LDD (Land Development Department LDD) - 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:

Organic vegetable production is a technology that prevents and restores land degradation due to soil management emphasized in using organic and natural materials to improve soil fertility and productivity, especially in terms of soil organic matter.

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Organic vegetable cultivation on the highland area of the northern region of Thailand has been encouraged by local officers in order to produce safe food on degraded land through building up soil fertility and soil organic matter.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

This case study is of organic vegetable cultivation at Ban Muang Ang Village which is located in Ban Luang Sub-district, Chom Thong District, Chiang Mai Province, covering approx. 25,881 Rai (6.25 rai = 1 ha; 625 rai = 1 sq km). The topography is a complex mountainous area within the Doi Inthanon National Park, at an elevation of 600-800 m asl. The climate is quite cool and humid with average temperature throughout the year being 20⁰C. The average annual rainfall is 2,000-2,100 mm. Most of the population belong to the Pakhayo hilltribe, living in 219 households, with total population of 588 persons (308 males, 280 females). The main purpose of promoting growing organic vegetables in greenhouses is to change their way of life from forest encroachment/ shifting cultivation in the upper watershed, to improving the ecosystem services and environment with better health and higher incomes for villagers.
Since 2002, the government and the Royal Project Foundation have had a policy to change land use to organic farming. At the early stage, yields of organic vegetables were not good. In the year 2010, the Inthanon Royal Agricultural Station brought a number of these land users to visit the Mae Tho Royal Project Development Center in Bo Sali Sub-district, Hot District, Chiang Mai Province. They obtained knowledge about organic cultivation in simple greenhouses made from bamboo poles, covered with plastic sheets and nylon nets. Local officers of the Inthanon Royal Agricultural Station supported with education, offered suggestions and recommended practices, as well as finding markets to sell the organic products; that became the model. It took only 25-30 days for a crop, and they could harvest about 200 kg of vegetables per greenhouse. They could produce 11 crops of vegetables in one year, which means that they could earn 10 times more income than before. At present, Muang Ang Village there are 153 members operating in 270 greenhouses which is the largest organic vegetable production area in the Inthanon Royal Project.
The production of organic vegetables in this area is outstanding. This network has received certification from the Department of Agriculture (DOA) and the Office of Organic Agriculture Certification Thailand (ACT Organic). Farmers or farming enterprises certified by this system are entitled to apply the logos and certification card of ACT Organic and IFOAM Accredited brand on their products. Moreover, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) has approved the production processes. Every production step has been approved through the standard regulation of each agency with tracking to the source of production inputs such as fertilizers, disease, weed and pest control measures, cultivation practices, etc. Now they have nine types of vegetables that constitute the main production: Choy, Baby Emperor, Cos Salad, Green Oak, Red Oak, Fille Iceberg, String Bean, Kale Hong Kong and Baby Carrot.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos of the Technology

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

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2002

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

All knowledge and technology is supported by the Royal Project collaboration with Land Development Department and other government and private agencies.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• conserve ecosystem
• preserve/ improve biodiversity
• create beneficial economic impact

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

Comments:

In the past, villagers had encroached on forest areas and deforestation in highland for shifting cultivation, and also expand cultivation area into steep slope. Resulting in the destruction of forest areas and accelerated soil degradation. Villagers have low incomes: not enough to survive. But due to the grace of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, King Rama 9 set up the Royal Project to distribute knowledge and education to all farmers in this area, and assist them to have better occupation and living standards.

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

Comments:

The Royal Project has promoted the production of organic vegetables. Farmers therefore have changed from shifting cultivation to organic agriculture with sustainable soil management. As well as returning from forest areas and conserving soil, water and forest resources, maintaining ecological balance, this all makes villagers lives better. According to the cultivation schedule provided by the Royal Project, this area can cultivated throughout the year due to the development of irrigation systems from the storage tank in the upper part and supply to each plot of this targeted area.

3.4 Water supply

other (e.g. post-flooding):

• water from watershed area

Comments:

Water resources are obtained from watercourses in the watershed, with a small dam which collects water in a reservoir. A PVC pipe is connected from the reservoir to individual plots and this irrigation system allows allocation to every farmer by the water management group.

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• rotational systems (crop rotation, fallows, shifting cultivation)
• integrated pest and disease management (incl. organic agriculture)
• irrigation management (incl. water supply, drainage)

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

-

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Organic vegetable production in greenhouses can solve the problem of soil erosion with utilization of compost, animal and green manure to increase fertility and organic matter.

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

Comments:

This organic vegetable production on very steep land can prevent and reduce soil erosion. Moreover, organic material and fertilizers can restore and improve soil fertility and productivity.

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

Baht (THB)

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

32.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Establish organic vegetables group	The first year of cultivation
2.	Site selection	Before cultivation
3.	Construct greenhouse or nursery	Before cultivation
4.	Production work plan	Before cultivation
5.	Procurement of production factors	Before cultivation
6.	Soil preparation and improvement	During soil preparation
7.	Vegetables seedling preparation	During soil preparation
8.	Plantation	During vegetables planting
9.	Disease and pest control	During vegetables planting
10.	Vegetable harvesting	During harvesting
11.	Screening and packing	After harvesting
12.	Technology maintenance	After harvesting

Comments:

-

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	Construct greenhouse	man	10.0	300.0	3000.0	100.0
Labour	During cultivation	man	6.0	300.0	1800.0	100.0
Labour	During maintenance	man	45.0	300.0	13500.0	100.0
Labour	During harvesting	man	10.0	300.0	3000.0	100.0
Equipment	Rubber pipe	piece	1.0	1000.0	1000.0	100.0
Equipment	Tractor for soil preparation	Rai	1.0	300.0	300.0	100.0
Plant material	Vegetables seed	site	1.0	700.0	700.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Animal manure (cow manure)	bag	20.0	30.0	600.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	BT bio-product	litre				100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Predators and parasites	-
Fertilizers and biocides	Insect glue trap	liter	0.5	290.0	145.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Yellow plastic plate	piece	60.0	5.0	300.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Yellow plastic bag	litre	0.5	120.0	60.0	100.0
Construction material	Wood frame / mesh net / plastic cloth	site	1.0	14700.0	14700.0	40.0
Construction material	PVC pipe	piece	40.0	40.0	1600.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					40705.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					1272.03

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

Construction greenhouse cost, land users support 40%, and Organic Vegetable Production Fund support 60% of this cost.

Comments:

Labor cost in greenhouse construction, greenhouse materials, which land users would only pay for the first year, but they do not pay for the second year and do not much towards repair cost.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Changing the plastic sheet of the roof of greenhouse	3,000 baht per greenhouse every 3 years
2.	Washing the plastic sheet of the greenhouse roof	Once a year

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	Changing plastic sheets	man	3.0	300.0	900.0	100.0
Labour	Wash plastic sheets	man	3.0	300.0	900.0	100.0
Construction material	Plastic sheet (change every 3 years)	roll	1.0	3700.0	3700.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					5500.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					171.88

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

Land users purchase 100%

Comments:

Land users purchase 100%

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The most important factor that affects other costs is seed. Manure must be purchased from standard organic source. The Royal Project provides standard seed, and animal manure must be purchased from other provinces that require natural cultivation farming. The source of the materials used can be traced back to the original provider. Labor factors are not impacted because they can help each other, and land users work together in each greenhouse.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• convex situations

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Most of the area is mountainous slope complex, with a steep slope and attitude is 1,200-1,400 meters above sea level. The forest condition is good, and some areas of the Doi Inthanon is national park and some is in national forest reserve.

5.3 Soils

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Soil pH is 5.5-6.0

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Water flows from the watershed area of the upper forest, and not flow through the conventional agricultural area.

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

Biodiversity in this area has a variety of insects. There are both pests and predators.

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users can cultivate organic vegetables and earning more income, where young generation in the village become interested and help their families to cultivate organic vegetables. Moreover these young generation who have graduated from university like to become farmers and do not leave to other occupations.

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

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

Land ownership:

• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

Specify:

-

Comments:

Land users in this area are Lawa hill tribe who migrated from different places to settle here. The main occupation is agriculture under crop rotation, some harvesting of forest products, and some animals. They have not right in landownership but they have right to utilize their land and water for agricultural activities under the Royal Project.

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

Comments:

-

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Water availability and quality

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

Specify assessment of on-site impacts (measurements):

The main objective of organic vegetables cultivation is to increase their income and produce green vegetable products, they can work throughout the year with higher income with the less of area.

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Specify assessment of off-site impacts (measurements):

Moreover, land users in the upstream area would cultivate in organic vegetables with bioproducts of disease and pest control, where it would safe to the downstream area.

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			moderately
seasonal temperature	summer		not well
seasonal temperature	wet/ rainy season		well
seasonal temperature	winter		well
annual rainfall			well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	moderately
local thunderstorm	moderately

Biological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
epidemic diseases	not well at all
insect/ worm infestation	not well at all

Comments:

-

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• > 50%

If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

Land users are 153 members, with 270 greenhouses

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 0-10%

Comments:

In the first stage some of land user cultivated organic vegetables without greenhouses, then they lost their grain. After they had train and study trip, they improve their implement and construct greenhouse.

6.6 Adaptation

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

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Promoting occupation and income earning of land users in this area.
All land users have been well trained; they receive consistent knowledge and suggestions from local officers and several agencies.
All land users produce certified organic vegetables that are green and are sold as organic food in the market.
They established the community enterprises of organic vegetables producer group.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Encouraging organic vegetable production is the activity of the government and the Royal Project in order to conserve this highland area with the intensive management.
Members of the land users community trust and assist each other with willingness to share the knowledge and experience in organic farming practices.
As a model of self-sufficient agriculture, they should have more income from the sustainable use of their land.
Establish and strengthen the community network to carry out and extend to others in this area.

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?
They are allowed to use the land for cultivating organic vegetables.	The government policy needs to have stability and consistency in using this land for a long time.
They need educational opportunity for their children.	The government needs to set up more schools in this area, and also to provide more chance to study in the higher level.
They need to have opportunity to access energy resources, especially in electricity.	Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) has allocated budget for installing small electrical systems.
Transportation and road conditions are not convenient to access this area.	Local administrative organizations should be allocated more budget to develop such infrastructure.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
They do not have land ownership but they are allowed to use their land.	The government has a policy to "Issue a community land title deed" to solve this problem.
Almost of them cannot produce such as manure, compost, insect repellents by themselves.	Local officers have supported the knowledge and financial advice.
Almost of them cannot find organic product market by themselves.	establishment their cooperatives or network to promote in marketing.

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:

The North attitude: Ang village cultivate vegetables to the forest

URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKLG2ImGwDE

Title/ description:

Organic vegetables at Ang village, Joam Tong Sub-district

URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALL9jJYzVyI

Title/ description:

Regional 4.0: ภูมิภาค 3.0: Ang village cultivate vegetables to the forest

URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u02SB_53IM

7.4 General comments

-