I. First progress report (May 11, 2007):
Activities undertaken:
1. Eight sessions of training conducted re: organic farming and food production standards
2. First random land and water checks performed
3. First capacity-building activities carried out for inspectors and committees
4. Informational campaigns launched re: organic farming standards

Results of activities:
1. 88 project participants show increased capacity by establishing 78 ha of organic cultivated land in 13 districts of two provinces; all are issued Organic Farming Standard Certification
3. Major stakeholders?the grantee, consumers, academics, NGOs, and commissioners?develop collaborative approach to project management
4. Grantee farming practices consistent with criteria of ISO/IEC GUIDE 65, in preparation for upgrade to international standards

II. Second progress report (September 18, 2007):
Activities undertaken:
1. Additional three training sessions conducted re: organic farming and food production standards
2. Six quality-checking missions conducted re: land, water, and project members? agricultural products
3. Six capacity-building sessions held for inspectors and committees
4. Nine informational events held re: organic farming standards

Results of activities:
1. 265 farmers in project location, and 680 in network area have received information on the environmental and economic importance of complying with organic farming standards; farmers are committed to cultivating their land with standards in mind (as consumers would look favorably on organic certification)
2. Between April and August 2007, 10 farmers (and their cumulative 8 ha) switched from chemical to organic farming methods and applied for certification;
3. Consumers show increased confidence in safety of products certified by the project
4. Grantee is recognized as a certifying organization for farming product standards
5. Local government understands CBO role in promoting organic farming, as evidenced by willingness to fund a consulting firm to address grantees? operational systems, human resources development, and information management
6. Organic husbandry network created, with management system that provides both production and marketing support

III.Monitoring visit from NC (February 11, 2008):
On February 11, 2008, the National Coordinator visited THA-06-10 to assess the project halfway through its two-year duration. Due to time constraints, one project member?s house was selected for a field visit. The backyard contained a pigpen with one pig and a biogas pit that operated using the pig manure. The byproduct of this process was then used as an ingredient in an organic substance later applied to soybeans and vegetables.

Soybean fields were located in the lower region of the village. Only 28 members practiced organic farming; this allowed for a side-by-side comparison of fields cultivated organically, and those cultivated using insecticides and chemical fertilizers. The latter looked healthier to the naked eye. (Project members? soybeans were sold to either a small dairy, or a soy sauce factory. The NC visited one such factory in San Pa Yang.)

To promote the consumption of organic products, groups of project members from Chaingmai took turns bringing the products downtown. Some group sold three days a week, while others could only manage one or two days.

The visit, though brief, confirmed that progress was being made, and results were promising. The grantee planned to proceed with organic farming. Project members were likely encouraged to do so by several other visitors, including delegations from the Agricultural Product Research (Switzerland) and the National Office of Food and Agricultural Product Standards.

IV.Mid-course Evaluation Workshop):
Together with 11 other projects of the same class, the project attended midcourse evaluation on March 19-21, 2008.

V. Monitoring Visit from NC ,RR and CO staff member((19 August 2008):):
On 19 August 2008, NC, RR , a UNDP CO staff member and two graduate students in agro-business and agricultural extension Mae Jo University.The findings and observations are as follows:

In order for the visiting team to have clearer picture of the grantee, a briefing session was conducted in the office , where the chairperson of NOSO presented the mandates and modus operandi to promote learning on organic farming and how to give certificates to members whose farming practice meet all criteria of organic farming. The Institute for Sustainable Agriculture Community (ISAC), one of NOSO?s affiliation, also presented its works on building, expanding and supporting sustainable communities in Chiangmai Province. Presentations ,coupled with some questions and answers gave both NOSO and ISAC picture of fairly tight CBOs.

A short visit to Nong Hoi general market place in Chiangmai downtown witnessed four stalls in a corner of the place selling organic products from the project. It is one of several places where project products are being offered to consumer in the provincial town. Project members are given the space and they take turns hauling their products for sales. The arrangement of the place was supported by the government?s Health Promotion Fund through the Association for Youth Development and Toxic-free Supplier for Health of Consumers.

Four plots of project members in Mae Taeng and Sansai District visited demonstrated how organic farming was practiced which mainly included production of organic compost from animal manure and other agricultural waste , insect repellence and how to feed animal organically. These plots grow several kinds of edible native species.

One notable approach-and seemed to satisfy project members- was the trial to make good uses of all available organic materials for farming practice to ensure optimal self ?support system. In addition, all four plots demonstrate small facilities for renewable energy ,such as, charcoal producing kiln which makes use of trimmed twigs and branches from the orchards, biogas from pig manures and solar dryers. One plot in Sansai District successfully demonstrated a pilot water heater facility by fermentation process in a pig pen.

It seemed the project had fared as planned but a big scale replication to other districts in Chiangmai and other provinces was implied to be in the beginning stage, even though NOSO has network and members in several districts. The projects, together with other 11 projects of their class, dubbed as GEF SGP Class 8/1, planned to meet for final participatory evaluation sometimes in November 2008, where these SGP grantees would share knowledge and experience as well as build a stronger network for future activities.

VI. Experience- sharing meeting (January 14-16, 2009):
Together with leaders of 8 others project of the same grant cycle from various regions of the country(THA/06/01 to THA/06/12) , the project participated in the event.The group had reach agreement to produce knowledge product in a form of booklet sharing experience in implementing their project. The title of the booklet is " Weaving Ways of Lives from Mountain down to Sea".

VII. Completion report (January 30, 2009):

Date of Participatory Evaluation(15-17 January 2009)

Number of Beneficiaries/ Participating personnel:
Women: 242
Men: 427
Children: 484

Number of persons trained/ attending seminars, joining study tours:
Women: 290
Men: 242
Children: -

Expense:

Amount received from SGP (3 disbursements): THB: 1,172,218.76
Total amount spent out of SGP budget: THB: 1,292,702.24
Balance: THB: (-120,483.48)
Amount authorized for the final payment: US$: 3,689.02
Amount Received from others: THB: 911,000.00

Activities undertaken:
1. Training target population on standard of organic farming /creating standard of food processing ( 35 sessions of training in total)
2. Conducting random checking land and water quality and products from farmlands of project members ( 37 missions in total )
3. Formulating standards for organic product processing
4. Building capacity of inspectors and committees to ensure public confidence ( 30 sessions in total)
5. Launching dissemination campaigns for policy change on standards of organic farming ( 32 sessions in total)

Results of activities:
1. Increased awareness and capacity regarding standards of organic farming of 1,685 farmers from 221 villages in 10 provinces , being able to apply the learnt standards in agricultural practice
2. Adaptation of 242 households ? practicing organic farming- and cultivated area of 280 ha in five provinces- once chemical intensive now becoming organic and certified by Northern Organic Farming Standard Organization. The products are being supplied to organic markets in communities and provincial town of Chiangmai.
3. Record of substantial reduction of chemical uses ( chemical fertilizer, POPs, fungicide, herbicide and plant hormone)
4. Increased capacity of NOSA with certification from ISO/IEC guide 65 , resulting in value added organic products thus in confidence of consumers
5. Increased awareness of wider public leading to an initiative to forge Northern Organic Husbandry Network

Project Communication:
In addition to relevant undertaken activities, the project launched a mobile educating forum for reporters and consumers on February 17, 2008.

Experience , Lessons Learnt , Problems and Issues:
In spite of initial accomplishment, the grantee stipulated that it would not be self-reliant in the near future. Majority of its members are small farmers who were not able to fully provide financial support. Outside funding was still necessary.

Plans and Activities for Sustainability:
1. The project would keep on with campaigns to increase members and decrease chemical intensive cultivated land.
2. The project would promote organic husbandry ,and on top of that , maximize the use of its by products to ensure effectiveness and sustainability.
3. The project would promote activities on conservation of natural resources and environment.