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

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

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

A group of 253 farmers have participated in organic rice production covering an area of 6,000 rai (960 ha) since 1989. The organic rice has been certified as meeting the standards of OACT and IFOAM; more than 3,000 tons/yr have been exported.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

The distinctive character of this farmers’ group is the production of organic crops by using organic fertilizers from agricultural by-products and residues from organic-fermented liquid kitchen wastes and green manure. The group has been successfully supported by private and public organizations. The main objectives are to produce organic rice for export for higher income, with the aim of better health for farmers and consumers – through avoiding agricultural chemical residues. The establishment of a learning and training center has been an important tool to scale-up and scale-out the activities; the certification of the products has been necessary to promote exports. The stages of implementation were as follows: (1) formulate and prioritize policy and plans by the committee of 20 farmers from the group; (2) organize meetings for the 253 farmer members to determine rice varieties and after-rice vegetables; (3) purchase raw materials for making compost from three sources of funds: first from the group by selling compost to non-members; second through the private export companies paying a premium of approx. 300,000 THB/yr to the group; and third, government agencies supporting materials for learning and training. This model of using organic fertilizers to produce organic crops is being scaled-out to 33 farmer groups in various districts of Yasothon Province. The main crop is organic rice, which is collected at the center for export. Implementation includes planting, tending the crop, harvesting, certification, and selling. The 253 farmers in the group produce and sell their own products in the local markets, and to restaurants and hospitals, while private companies purchase the rice for export. The Land Development Department provides the knowledge for making compost and organic-fermented liquid and also distributes green manure seeds and activators of bacteria and fungi for compost fermentation. The Department of Agricultural Extension provides funding in establishing the learning and training center and materials used for training. The Agricultural Cooperatives Promotion Department supports the development of skills in household accounting. The Department of Groundwater provides groundwater irrigation by drilling wells 30-40 m deep. The Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency provides solar cells as the source of energy. Private organizations such as OACT and IFOAM certify the organic food products. The farmer groups are fully satisfied with the quality of their rice products that meet market demand well, and they get higher incomes as a result. Farmers are healthier and are safe from agricultural chemical residues; all of them are proud of their export quality rice products.

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

• traditional/ indigenous

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

1) To promote the use of organic fertilizers to produce rice and other crops.
2) To promote this production system for higher income.
3) To promote the grouping of farmers to improve communities in the sense of being self-reliant.

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	self-mobilization	The group chairman (Mr. Mun Samsee)'s suggestion to recommend the process of non-chemical agriculture.
planning	self-mobilization	The chairman and members collaborate to plan the organic fertilizer production.
implementation	self-mobilization	The chairman and members produce organic fertilizers together.
monitoring/ evaluation	interactive	The private company (Thai export company) monitored the quality of organic rice with emphasis on the preservation of the environment and the sustainability of the program.

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

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.

Farmers in Naso Sub-district and nearby

Form of training:

• on-the-job
• farmer-to-farmer

Subjects covered:

The creation of an organic agriculture network, the markets for export, livestock, etc.

Comments:

Most of the members have good agriculture knowledge, so it is easy to expand the concepts and market.

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• at permanent centres

Describe/ comments:

The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives officers recommend and support the knowledge and production inputs.

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:

It is the main goal to obtain the organic agriculture standard certifications.

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

No

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Yes

Specify topics:

• sociology
• economics / marketing
• ecology
• technology

Give further details and indicate who did the research:

The government agencies, university students and private development organizations collaborate in research and apply to implementation.

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• 10,000-100,000

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

The working capital in organisation, supporting funds from government agencies and other private sector.

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):

The government agencies supported production inputs. The Rak Thammachat Club (Naso Rice Farmers Group) support labour wages.

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• labour

• equipment

• agricultural

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

• voluntary

Comments:

Not only the production inputs but also the labour is important.

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

Yes

Specify conditions (interest rate, payback, etc.):

Interest rate is 5-7% on average.

Specify credit providers:

Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, Krung Thai bank.

Specify credit receivers:

Rak Thammachat Club (Naso Rice Farmers Group)

5.5 Other incentives or instruments

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

Yes

If yes, specify:

The farmer groups determine clearly the trade prices for organic rice.

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)?

• yes

If yes, describe how:

This farmer group aims to produce organic rice warranting the standard certification by both domestic and foreign organizations. The group has been strengthened and has obtained the clear administration principles. The private export companies pay a premium of approx. 300,000 THB/yr to the group; Green Net Cooperative.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
The government agencies continuously supports the production inputs.
The organic agriculture system can preserve the environment.
The agricultural production attained high quality and could promote public health.
This approach could create the added values to rice production.
The community has become conscientious.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The group leaders have been strengthened through training by government agencies, allowing them to lead the group members and enabling others to succeed in organic farming.
The group consults and encourages an exchange of knowledge among members.
There have been meetings continuously to offer any comments on development and improvement of the operation of the group.
The group members can support themselves and produce the best quality rice.
There has been a continued integration between various agencies.
The organic farming has helped in making farmers’ health better, with better environment and more secure food availability.

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 members are still concentrated in Naso Sub-district area.	More networks have been created.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
The intervention of government policies affected with the result that some members have withdrawn.	Suggestion has been to create awareness amongst the members of the importance in adhering to organic farming.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Organic fertilizer, production, using, and quality. Department of Agriculture. 2005. ISBN 974-436-479-3

Available from where? Costs?

http://aglib.doa.go.th/lib/images/Downloads/2549/EB00280.pdf

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Na-So; This video presents the compost production including the steps of compost making and the place where to apply (especially rice, vegetable, fruit).

URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEbrKL8Zdok&feature=youtu.be