|
Organic
farming: New approach of Kuan
Niang Farmers
Story
& Photo by Sumalee Saetia
When Uncle Prawe Mi-sarung,
a 46 years old farmer of Group 9 Yang-ngam Village, Ratappom sub-district,
Kuan Niang District, Songkhla Province, compared the low-yield feeble
chili trees, which he planted the traditional way like most farmers,
with those he experimented with organic farming, he knew immediately
that the new organic farming approach he has learnt earlier will
definitely change his farming concept and lifestyle.
“At first I thought
it was not feasible but I wanted to give it a try, so I planted
the trees as instructed and it yielded better than I expected”,
said Uncle Praew referring to the experiment he did to compare the
differences between the two farming methods.
In the middle of 2001, Uncle Praew received
training on organic farming under the World Vision Foundation of
Thailand’s program sponsored by the Australian Center for International
Agricultural Research (ACIAR) in conjuction with the Faculty of
Natural Resoruces of Prince of Songkhla University. Uncle Praew
learnt that organic farming enables plants to grow well, yield more
and conserve the environment. The produces are also safer to farm
and consume. All these advantages induce Uncle Praew to try out
this new farming technique.
 |
With an initial capital of around 10,000 baht,
Uncle Praew bought the necessary equipment and materials such as
plastic sheets to shield the plants, black flat hose for transporting
water, bio-organic fertizilers, etc. First Uncle Praew had to prepare
and adjust the soil condition to get ready for plantation. Then
he set up the irrigation system by laying black flat hose in the
vegetable plot. The hose with holes enabled water and bio-organic
fertilizer solution to be transported and seeped into the soil.
Then he shielded the vegetable plot with plastic sheets. The plastic
sheets outer bronze lining refect light and keep insects away from
biting and eating the young plants, whereas the inner black lining
prevent weeds from spreading over the soil surface and keep the
soil moist. This plastic sheet could be dissolved within a year.
After all preparation, the seeds were planted into the soil.
Uncle Praew related that this type of farming preserves
the environment, water resources and soil condition because it does
not involve using any pesticide. He was then able to use the ditch
that he dug beside the vegetable plot to raise fish for own consumption
and sale. Organic farming is not only environmental and consumer
friendly, it saves time and labor. For example, whenever it is time
for irrigation, he simply plugs in the piping system and water with
fertilizer-mixed solution will be pumped into the flat hose buried
on the vegetable plot. The whole process takes 20 minutes as compared
to the 6 hours needed to water the plot by hand. He has more time
to spend with his children.
In the beginning Uncle Praew only attempted organic
farming on a plot 800 sq.m., gradually he expanded the area. At
present he utilizes approx. 1600 sq.m. of neighbour’s undeveloped
land to grow different types of vegetables such as sweet corn, chilli,
bean and cucumber, giving him a monthly return of approx. 3,000
baht in addition to his main earnings on rubber plantation. His
family has enough to spend on.
Although the cost of organic farming is higher but taking into consideration
the safety and increasing health conscious consumers, there is a
great demand for such produce in the market.
 |
Being the first generation organic farmers in his district, Uncle
Praew shared the experience he gained during the past two years
with the next generation. He offered the opportunity for students
in Yang-ngam village to come to study and try their hands on organic
farming in his plot, hoping that these students can take what they
learn to apply in their schools and own homes. It won’t take long
where each farmer and family in Yang-ngam village will have fresh,
hygenic, pesticide-free vegetables for consumption and sale, increasing
their family income.
|
