Approaches

Promoting the Network for Integrated Management on Salt-Affected Soils [Thailand]

Farmer group in saline soils

approaches_4294 - Thailand

Completeness: 89%

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:

Sala Rabrab

Ban Hua Nong, Ban Phai, Khon Kaen, Thailand

Thailand

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

04/01/2019

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

Yes

2. Description of the SLM Approach

2.1 Short description of the Approach

The multi-agency approach for promoting the network of integrated management on salt-affected soils has been conducted in Ban Hua Nong, Hua Nong subdistrict, Ban Phai district, Khon Kaen province since 2007. For this approach to succeed there must be a strong and selfless group leader. In addition, members of the group must have unity and share knowledge themselves and also among other groups of farmers.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

The multi-agency participatory approach for promoting the network of integrated management on salt-affected soils has been conducted in Ban Hua Nong, Hua Nong subdistrict, Ban Phai district, Khon Kaen province since 2007. The group of farmers was about fifteen persons – mainly women. They wanted to find a way to generate income during the post-harvest season. Because their areas are rainfed, their activities were limited to the rainy season. During the dry season, farmers lacked water and their soils are slightly salt-affected. The group needed a strong and selfless leader – and Mrs. Rabeab Sala was asked. The approach focused on exchanging opinions between farmers and agencies and developing new knowledge and capacity. There needed to be a willingness to learn. Furthermore, the members needed to have similar objectives based on the local resource. The group was supported with academic knowledge and a budget in accordance with the needs of farmers. The keys steps are as follows:
1. The integration of farmers with similar goals and concepts to develop farms of group members.
2. Selection of the group leader who is ready to sacrifice and be able to coordinate with government agencies and farmers groups from other communities.
3. Farmers group register community enterprise groups to create opportunities for access to knowledge and technology – and for marketing also.
4. Creating a platform for sharing knowledge among and between farmers, communities and agencies from government and private companies.
5. Developing training courses that improve the abilities of farmers in various aspects of their work.
6. Collaborating - government and private agencies with farmers in the community - to continuously monitor group activities to build good relations between all stakeholders resulting in more expansion if integrated management in the area.
7. Government and private agencies provide knowledge: in this case Ban Phai Agricultural Extension Office, and a budget in this case Khon Kaen Coope.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

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

Country:

Thailand

Region/ State/ Province:

khon kaen

Further specification of location:

102.6999187………………. Latitude: 16.053112………………………

Comments:

This area has salt-affected soils and the main crop is a paddy rice under rainfed conditions

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

Indicate year of initiation:

2007

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date when the Approach was initiated:

10-50 years ago

Year of termination (if Approach is no longer applied):

2018

2.7 Type of Approach

  • project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

This approach aims to build the capacity of farmers groups to develop agricultural areas and to process agricultural products to add value. Also, this guideline aims to secure food for family and community.

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

social/ cultural/ religious norms and values
  • hindering

The belief is the salt-affected soils can not improve

availability/ access to financial resources and services
  • enabling

Farmer groups have more opportunities to access the financial resource

knowledge about SLM, access to technical support
  • enabling

Changing and sharing the knowledge among farmers, government and private company

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

Diversity of the agricultural prducts

workload, availability of manpower
  • enabling

Farmers are helping and supporting the work of the group

3. Participation and roles of stakeholders involved

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

  • local land users/ local communities

Farmers are older than
55 years old

Perform the activities as group members.

  • SLM specialists/ agricultural advisers

Expert and agriculturist

Provide knowledge and evaluate progress on-farm

  • private sector

Staff of private company

Provide knowledge and evaluate on-farm

  • local government

Officers of municipality

Coordinator

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 Farmer group shares the idea and concept for development
planning interactive Farmers and officers collaborate to design the agricultural plan
implementation self-mobilization Farmers work on farm
monitoring/ evaluation interactive Leader group collaborates with officers to evaluation the activities on farm every month

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

Description:

The approach of promoting the integration management of salt-affected soils was used in saline soil areas to create the participation of stakeholders were included farmers in the community, government agencies, and private agencies for community development

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:

Farmers in the community, government agencies, and private agencies for community development

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

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:
  • on-the-job
  • demonstration areas
Subjects covered:

The activities worked on-farm by farmer and officer

Comments:

Government provides training and demonstration

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:

Land Development Department Regional Office 5 and the farmer group had monitored and evaluated the activities of farmers in the area

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?
  • yes, greatly
Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:
  • local
Describe institution, roles and responsibilities, members, etc.

Learning center

Specify type of support:
  • capacity building/ training
Give further details:

Chili and banana cultivation , mushroom producing, and agricultural products processing

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

Monitoring on farm

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

No

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

No

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:
  • 10,000-100,000

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):

Government had provided the knowledge to farmer group and support the equipment such as groundwater wells, tools and equipment for agricultural products processing, and rice mills, etc.

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

  • equipment
Specify which inputs were subsidised To which extent Specify subsidies
machinery fully financed Rice mill
tools fully financed Equipment for agricultural products processing and mushroom producing
  • agricultural
Specify which inputs were subsidised To which extent Specify subsidies
seeds partly financed Seeding of chili
  • construction
Specify which inputs were subsidised To which extent Specify subsidies
wood partly financed Farmers provide the wood for mushroom nursery
If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:
  • voluntary
Comments:

Working together among farmers

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:

Promotion through the media

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

Strong group

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

Distribute to the other community

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

Create the confidence for the financial resource

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

Learning center

Did the Approach build/ strengthen institutions, collaboration between stakeholders?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Having a forum for discussion and sharing the idea

Did the Approach encourage young people/ the next generation of land users to engage in SLM?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Encourage the young farmer

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

Food security and increase income

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

Community market

Did the Approach improve the capacity of the land users to adapt to climate changes/ extremes and mitigate climate related disasters?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Mix cropping system

Did the Approach lead to employment, income opportunities?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Mix cropping system

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

  • increased production

diversity of food crop

  • increased profit(ability), improved cost-benefit-ratio

increasing income

  • reduced land degradation

more soil improvement by adding organic matter

  • reduced risk of disasters

shallow groundwater well

  • enhanced SLM knowledge and skills

changing and sharing the knowledge

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:

diversity of agricultural activities and create the food security

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
1.This approach provided the opportunities for farmers to access knowledge and technologies that according to themselves.
2.Farmers could share the knowledge among farmers and government agencies and private agencies.
3. Farmer has been further developed based on the knowledge and experience of themselves.
4.This approach leads community to develop sustainable production and food security on their land.
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Changing and sharing the knowledge

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 shallow groundwater is not enough for farmers Government support
The belief that a saline soil could not be improved Study from the success area
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view How can they be overcome?
A strong group leader is the important factor for achieving success

7. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

  • field visits, field surveys

2 sites

  • interviews with land users

6 persons

  • interviews with SLM specialists/ experts

1 persons

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