Project Detail

Promotion of Environmentally-friendly Agriculture for CBOs'

Since 1992, the Phong River, a tributary of the Mekhong River has been under continuous threats which include toxic chemicals, from both industries and agriculture. While the industries upstream are dumping untreated waste into the river, the communities are making the situation worse by unscrupulous disposal of household waste. The effect of the pollution has been witnessed by the death of fishes along the river and residue in human bodies.

Since the project location comprises 7 farming communities with 890 families depending upon the river for agriculture and other domestic use, the threats directly affects the livelihood of these communities and everybody living downstream from northeast Thailand, Lao P.D.R. , Kamphuchea and Vietnam.

Project goals or objectives (including GEF problem-area addressed by projects):

1.To develop learning process and awareness on conservation of the river
2.To develop management process of the group regarding optimization of environmentally-friendly agriculture
3.To disseminate best/worst practices and approaches in conservation activities to wider audiences

Activities to be carried out under project:

1.Building capacity of members of community on issues and approaches of Phong River and global environment through seminars & study tours
2.Convening workshop and putting into practice the environmentally-friendly agriculture
3.Producing tracts and other types of media to supply information and raise awareness on sustainable community livelihood

Project participants and/or beneficiaries:

1.Phong-Phu Wiang Conservation Network, Northeastern Farmers Forum
2.District Public Health Office, District Hospital
3.Environmental Health and Environmental Office, Area 6
4.Wangchai Tambol Administrative Organization
5.Youth group and Women?s group
6.Public Health Volunteer Club

Anticipated results of project:

-202 members of communities attend conservation activities continuously
-50 selected members acquire skill in making natural fertilizer, able to practice at the families.
-Conservation activities in 7 villages is kept on with increasing number of new members
-At least 5 key members from the villages join force in formulating policy and plan for natural agriculture with both public and private sector.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

The Phong River Conservation Group

Country:

Thailand

Area Of Work:

International Waters

Operational Phase:

Phase 2

Grant Amount:

US$ 9,904.00

Co-Financing Cash:

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 6,156.69

Project Number:

THA/00/G14

Start Date:

3/2000

End Date:

2/2001

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Project Results

1. 300 Community members learnt about the water quality problem of the river, toxic from chemical
fertiliser/pesticide and community waste ? increased members of the group to 250 members.
2. Emergence of Centre for Eco-Agricultural Promotion to be used as demonstration plot for natural
agriculture
3. 15 members have successfully put into actual practice the natural agriculture and no more rely on
chemical substance.
4. Initiative to produce chemical-free rice and vegetable

Participatory Evaluation: ( 2 April 2001 )

Participants:
1. 46 members of committee of Phong River Conservation Network
2. 15 committee members of the Phong River Conservation Group at Ban Tha Ma Dua
3. The grantee representing by105 community /committee members of the Phong River Conservation Group at Wangchai

Methods: One day seminar in which the following issues were put for discussion

1.How is the increased conservation awareness and responsibility of the target communities exhibited ?
2.How important do communities regard the natural agricultural approach ? How is this approach put into actual practice ?
3.How do communities rate the performance of the grantee ?

Impact:

1.Communities have exhibited increased conservation awareness by enrolling in the membership of the grantee with mobilized resources of Baht: 120,000: , on-going activities and established cooperatives with clear mandate on environment protection i.e.
-Supporting husbandry activities aiming to set-up Organic Fertilizer Fund
-Promotion of community rice mill establishment aiming to utilize rice husk/bran as constituents for organic fertilizer
-Promotion of chemical-free rice/vegetable plantation
These activities are being financially supported by the Community Organization Development Institute.

2. The future trend for community livelihood will be chemical-free agriculture-oriented. Even though, there has been no significant government cooperation, it is expected that it will be realized so that the issue of chemical substance in agriculture is solved.

Future Plan:

1. Finding out that participation had been limited, the project would solve this problem by collective business, especially production of chemical-free rice/vegetable for sales.
2. The weak marketing of the grantee would be solved by setting up a community cooperatives (done) to serve as a centre for marketing for members.
3. The community cooperatives would also serve as a mediator to borrow money from other financial institute such as BAAC and lend to members to carry on environmentally-friendly agri-business.
4. In order to reduce the labourious and clumsy process of applying organic fertilizer in power form, a facility to pellet the fertilizer is being built.

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