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

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

Land Development Department (Land Development Department) - 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

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Allocating and managing small-scale farm areas to make them suitable for agricultural production under the highest levels of integration and efficiency.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The new theory of agriculture is the application of improved mixed farming systems to poor farmers with smallholdings - for example in Chang Sai sub-district, Phra Phrom district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Thailand. The most important concept underlying the new theory of farming is efficient allocation of land to serve the different needs of farm households. This includes paddy fields, farm ponds for water and fish, and cash crops, fruit trees, and trees for farm income, plus a residential area. It's goal is solving the problem of shortage of land and water resources, which is a very serious problem in Thailand, in order to help smallholder farmers make a living. Apart from the fact that the size of the farm and water resources are the limiting factors in this area, the land is also degraded by both natural and human activities. The area is classified as sand dunes with low to very low soil fertility where farmers mostly grow the same crops continuously. This results in high risk of fluctuations in the amount of production - and insufficient food crop production for household consumption. Therefore, land allocation for agriculture under the concept of the new theory of agriculture is the appropriate use of resources in small-scale areas for optimal benefits and increases in household incomes. Nowadays, farmers in adjacent areas are realizing the benefits obtained from land allocation, and they have formed a group to improve the use of their small-scale holdings for optimal benefits.

The new agricultural theory was initiated by His Majesty the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand to provide help for farmers with small-scale farms. For land allocation, the land is divided into 4 parts. Part 1 is designated for a pond to store rainwater during the rainy season and to supply water to grow crops in the dry season as well as for raising aquatic animals (fish, field crabs) and plants (such as morning glory, water mimosa, etc.). Part 2 is set aside for rice cultivation during the rainy season as the daily staple in households throughout the year, which cuts down on expenses and allows the farmers to be self-reliant. Part 3 is used for growing fruit trees, perennials, vegetables, and field crops for daily consumption. If there is any surplus from consumption, it can be sold. Part 4 is used for dwellings, animal husbandry, roads and other structures - including barns, strawstacks, compost, houses, mushroom nurseries, stalls, flowering-plants, ornamental plants, home-grown vegetables in backyard gardens. The proportion of the area in each section can be adjusted for either increase or decrease depending on the conditions of each location and the necessity of farmers who make use of the area, but it is usually 30:30:30:10.

2.3 Photos 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:

2010

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

This technology was initiated by His Majesty the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand and disseminated to farmers by several departments under Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• create beneficial economic impact

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

Comments:

Crops include rice, vegetable, limes, tropical fruits, and trees, while aquatic animals include a variety of fishes and crabs.

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

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

• Yes (Please fill out the questions below with regard to the land use before implementation of the Technology)

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• rainfed

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• water harvesting
• home gardens

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• reduce land degradation

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

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

33.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Pond construction	dry season
2.	Labours	rainy season
3.	Seeds	rainy season
4.	Seedling	rainy season
5.	Aqautic animals (fishes and field crabs)	rainy season

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	Cultivation	days	60.0	300.0	18000.0	100.0
Equipment	Hiring tractors for pond construction	ponds	3.0	16000.0	48000.0	70.0
Plant material	Seeds	Kilogram	300.0	10.0	3000.0
Plant material	Seedlings	Plants	100.0	50.0	5000.0	80.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Compost	Ton	1.0	2500.0	2500.0	50.0
Construction material	Roof tiles	each	240.0	60.0	14400.0
Construction material	Cement	bags	8.0	100.0	800.0
Construction material	Sand and rocks	ton	1.0	1650.0	1650.0
Construction material	Pillars	each	12.0	100.0	1200.0
Other	Fishes and crabs	each	2500.0	1.0	2500.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					97050.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					2940.91

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

Government agencies

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Labours	throughout the year
2.	Seeds	rainy season
3.	Seedlings	rainy season
4.	Aquatic animal	9 months

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	Cultivation	days	260.0	300.0	78000.0	100.0
Labour	Cultivation	days	260.0	300.0	78000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Compost	ton	1.0	2500.0	2500.0	50.0
Other	Fishes and crabs	each	5000.0	1.0	5000.0	30.0
Other	Feeding	month	9.0	5000.0	45000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					208500.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					6318.18

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

Government agencies support some inuts

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Water - if there is a lack of water during the dry season, some agricultural activities may not be practiced. This leads to a reduction of agricultural cost; however, this also leads to a reduction of a household income during that period.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

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.

The soil in this area is sandy soil, classified into Coated, Isohyperthermic and Typic Quartzipsamments. The parent material is beach ridge or sand dune. The area condition is quite flat up to little undulating with the slope of 1.5%. The soil is very deep and well drained. Water permeability is fast but runoff on the soil surface occurs slowly. The soil reaction is very acidic to a little acidic (pH 5.0 - 6.5) throughout the soil profile. The soil fertility is low. Land use limitation is low fertility and a shortage of water.

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

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, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• individual

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

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

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

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?
seasonal temperature	summer	increase	moderately

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

• 11-50%

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

Members in the community (about 50-60 households in the community) and parts of the outside community nearby show interest in this technology because they see that it can increase household incomes and start to implement it in their own areas. However, allocation of the land differs according to the area conditions and the needs of the owners themselves.

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

• 0-10%

Comments:

The government provides some inputs for farmers who want to apply this technology to their farmland such as fish and rice seeds. Then, most farmers get some support before they start the activity on the farm.

6.6 Adaptation

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

Yes

If yes, indicate to which changing conditions it was adapted:

• changing markets

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

Since organic markets are increasing in the area, then some farmers produce without using agrichemical products. This allows farmers to improve the prices.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Water can be available even in the dry season since this technology includes the farm pond construction for rainwater storage.
Farmers should be able to grow enough rice for the whole year’s consumption.
Production planning can be done for the household consumption and supply to the market.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view

Allocation of the land into 4 parts according to the new theory of agriculture is considered an appropriate option for smallholder farmers who are having small farmland and water shortage. This is due to they can plan what crops, and when, to grow for each growing season based on climatic condition and market. Importantly, farmers learn how to plan the production that will be distributed to the market and for making a living.

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?
A lack of household labor results in some farmers adopted only part of technology where the efficiency of this technology may be lower than the adoption of full management.	Mose farmers hire labor or mechanical equipment to help them farming. although this increases the farming cost, it helps farmers to get their work done in time.
The cost of investment is rather high, especially for digging the pond.	Farmers ask the support from the government. While some farmers receive 80% help from the government, foundations, and the private sector for digging the ponds, others receive less support from the government.
Farmers have limited land for farming, to allocate the land to usual allocation as recommendation may not be suitable.	Farmers changed or improved the allocation ratio by themselves based on the land conditions, climatic condition, and the environment. For example, some farmers who have enough water sources in their areas, the size of the pond can be reduced to make room for other uses.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Due to the fact that managing the area with many activities may require more time to take action than monoculture farming, which cannot interest some farmers to practice. Furthermore, it may take time to make it worth the paid expenses due to complexity, little understanding, insufficient labor force, and more hiring may require.	The government needs to take action in the areas to provide more knowledge on this technology and find the solution to the problems.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

New Theory of Agriculture, 2011, Office of the Royal Development Projects Board.

Available from where? Costs?

http://www.rdpb.go.th/UploadNew/Documents/%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%A4%E0%B8%A9%E0%B8%8E%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%83%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A1%E0%B9%88.pdf

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Implementation manual for new theory of agriculture, 2015, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.

Available from where? Costs?

http://www3.oae.go.th/rdpcc/images/filesdownload/SUFFICIENCY/9.9.pdf

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Sufficiency Economy & New Theory

URL:

http://www.chaipat.or.th/eng/concepts-theories/sufficiency-economy-new-theory.html

7.4 General comments

The long-term impact on household income might change or improve if they practice this technology longer period than 8 years.