I. First progress report (November 12, 2007):
Activities undertaken:
1. Capacity-building activities conducted re: organic compost, and production of environmentally-friendly household items
2. Organic rice farming demonstrated

Results of activities:
1. 15 project members display increased capacity by producing environmentally-friendly household items for sale within the community; use of these substitutes results in a monthly reduction in household expenditure by THB 40.
2. 60 project members show ability to produce organic compost and other environmentally-friendly substances used in farming
3. Eight acres used as organic farming demonstration plots; 45 acres used for actual production
4. Expenditure on chemical fertilizer reduced THB 200/acre

II. Second progress report (May 23, 2008):
Activities undertaken:
1.Procuring and installing organic compost facility and putting into operation
2. Demonstrating organic rice farming
3. Conducting study tour and participatory evaluation

Results of activities:
1. The facility being able to produce organic fertilizer at 15-20 bags/day (about 50 kg./bag) with current total produced amount of 300 bags. Member price was Baht: 280/bags, non-member price Baht: 320/bag. The production was attributed to increased capacity of community members undergoing training for five days.
2. The evaluation concluded current yield of organic rice as about 3,000 kg/ha for plots in lowland, and about 2,500 kg/ha for plots of higher terrain ? comparatively low ? due to inadequate rainfall- partially meeting expectation of project members.
3. Increased number of members from 60 to 100 due to escalating price of chemical fertilizer ( about Baht: 1,010/bag)

Expense:
The project report the expense of THB 215,127 out of the two disbursements of THB 215,156.25.

III. Monitoring visit by NC and NSC (September 11, 2008):
On September 11, 2008, the NC and one NSC paid a visit to the project. The findings and observation are as follows:

Baan (village) Khilek, one of the two target villages is home of about 140 families who grow paddy for consumption and provide labour services for supplementary income. The area has been known as an arid zone in the poor and dry northeastern region of the country. Depending upon rainfall, paddy growing is traditionally once a year.

As a main result of capacity-building activities, the small bio-fertilizer facility of the project was seen in operation. Project members demonstrated their skill in operating the facility and responding to questions and relevant emerging issues satisfactorily. From May 2007 ? June 2008, the facility has been producing approximately 18,000 kg. of bio-fertilizer to group and non-group members since May 2007. Demonstrated use of this amount convinced target population on the virtue of the produced staff resulting in an increase of group members from 62 families to over 100. With increased demand, the project had to purchase additional amount using fund from the government?s Small-Medium-Large project.

Witnessing immediate outputs of the project, the team visited one of the six demonstration plots of the project. It was an area of about 1.2 acre of paddy. In the year 2007 planting season, with 90 kg. bio-fertilizer from the project, the plot gave a yield of 1,740 kg , compared to 900 kg. of they year 2006 spread with the same amount of chemical fertilizers. Other members who participated in the discussion confirmed the same results. Moreover, application of insecticide and herbicide was rated as very limited , since community members witnessed their adverse effects on animal and human life.

In spite of increased technical capacity of target population , promising outputs and outcomes, and satisfaction of target population, there is an issue of shortage of raw materials such as manure and agro-waste required in production. Project leaders had planned to cope with the issue.

IV. Mid-course evaluation workdhop (March 20-21, 2009)
Findings and observation:
Together with representatives from other projects of the same grant cycle (from THA/06/13 to THA/06/28), and SGP country team, the project participate in the workshop to update progress , share experience and initiate a network. It was agreed that each project would keep on contacting one another and sharing experience. Contacting addresses were distributed with one project as the coordinating centre for future activities. An NSC member who represented the National Environment Fund was also committed to help in keeping the network.

b>V. Completion report (September 30, 2009):

Date of Participatory Evaluation( March 28, 2009)

Number of Beneficiaries/ Participating personnel:
Women: 20
Men: 80
Children: 10

Number of persons trained/ attending seminars, joining study tours:
Women: 5
Men: 20
Children: -

Project Expense:
Amount received from SGP (3 disbursements): Baht: 314,437.50
Total amount spent out of SGP budget: Baht:
Balance: Baht: (- )
Amount authorized for the final payment: US$: 1,041.67

Activities undertaken:
1. Conducting capacity ?building activities
2. Procuring and stalling organic compost facility and electricity appliance for demonstration of energy saving at community scale
3. Demonstrating organic rice farming
4. Monitoring and evaluation

Results of activities:
1. Evident increased capacity & awareness of 102 members from 205 households of target population witnessed through active participation in planting organic rice covering the area of approximately 35 ha
2. Approximately 50 tons of organic fertilizer being produced replacing chemical ones with observable avoidance of chemical pesticide ? reduction of expense by 45.45 %
3. Reduction of household expense on kitchen and toiletry stuff by THB: 720/year /family of the women?s group
4. Reduction of expense on grid energy by 7 % among 10 selected households during project duration

Project Communication:
In addition to making big posters at six demonstration plots, the project launched activities to solicit new members and submit proposal to Huayhinlard Tambol Administrative Organization for further financial support. Relevant government offices at district level , such as land development office and agricultural office were kept informed of activities for technical advice as probably needed by the project.

Experience , Lessons Learnt , Problems and Issues:
The project referred to the draught that substantially reduced the expected yield of group members as the only main problem.

Plans and Activities for Sustainability:
After the project completion, the group discussed and come up with the following 4 approaches.

1. Propose a concept or proposal to local administrative organization which is a focal agency providing financial support to community development activities
2. Propose a logical document to the Health Promotion Office for possible financial support
3. Encourage community leaders to submit proposals to higher level (district) administrative organizations or the district chief.
4. Encourage more group members , together with investment as a saving group or cooperative.

Notwithstanding the above, the group would definitely keep on producing organic fertilizer using the existing facilities and experience.