Natural Agriculture Club
Type: Approaches
Creation: 2018-12-06 07:45 Updated: 2021-01-05 12:57
Compilers: Kukiat SOITONG
Reviewers: Rima Mekdaschi Studer, William Critchley
Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied
- Country: Thailand
- Region/ State/ Province: Kanchanaburi
- Further specification of location (e.g. municipality, town, etc.), if relevant: Government agencies, such as DOAE, LDD, support the project and giving information and public relations
- Map: View Map
Description of the SLM Approach
Short description of the Approach
The Natural Agriculture Club is a group of farmers who conduct organic farming on sloping land. An organic farming technology transfer centre has been established.
Detailed description of the Approach
The objectives of the Natural Agriculture Club are to bring together the farmers who practice organic farming on sloping land by setting up a forum for knowledge exchange and then sharing through the Organic Agriculture Technology Transfer Center. This will enable farmers gain knowledge and better understanding about organic agriculture production, and then increase their management capability from farm to market.
The Natural Agriculture Club guides organic production on sloping land and this involves restoration of agricultural ecosystems on farms. Therefore, it is necessary to improve learning about nature and farm management. Organic agriculture is a guiding principle of agriculture, based learning processes because farmers have to observe, analyze, synthesize and summarize lessons learned from their own farm. The physical conditions, such as soil, climate, and socioeconomics need to be considered in developing an organic approach that is specific to the area. The group learning system process includes the following steps:
1. Establishing a Natural Agriculture Club
2. Inviting interested farmers to join the club
3. Setting up a group management committee
4. Training club members about organic agriculture production and the process of managing the products
5. Creating a knowledge transfer process through practicing in the learning center
6. Providing an internal audit system to maintain the standards of organic farming
7. Running club seminars
8. Outreaching to YouTube videos, brochures, TV and radio interviews
9. Promotion and support from the Land Development Department, Department of Agricultural Extension, Department of Alternative Energy Development and The Energy Conservation Electricity Generating Authority
There are various stakeholders who are involved in the activities of the Natural Agriculture Club. Lead farmers and farmer members will participate in group management, to share and transfer knowledge among group members. Government and private agencies are promoting and supporting in terms of finance, inputs, promotion and public relations activities for the club. Exporters of organic products help distributing agricultural products to foreign countries. FAO is one of the agencies involved. Schools, universities, with their teachers and students are learning and observing the club activities. Members of the club are of the opinion that: the Natural Agriculture Club is a participatory forum involving both public agencies and farmers; group operations have the power to negotiate and contact the market directly; group learning provides better knowledge, skills and experience in organic agriculture; loyalty of farmer members makes the Natural Agriculture Club strong; and farmer members adopt and apply appropriate technologies because they have learned from the knowledge sharing and exchange - and from their own doing.
Photos of the Approach
- 📍 Moo 4 Ban Thungna, Nongpet Sub-district, Srisawat District, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand (หมู่ 4 บ้านทุ่งนา ต. หนองเป็ด อ. ศรีสวัสดิ์ จ. กาญบุรี)
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- 📍 Moo 4 Ban Thungna, Nongpet Sub-district, Srisawat District, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand (หมู่ 4 บ้านทุ่งนา ต. หนองเป็ด อ. ศรีสวัสดิ์ จ. กาญบุรี)
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- 📍 Moo 4 Ban Thungna, Nongpet Sub-district, Srisawat District, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand (หมู่ 4 บ้านทุ่งนา ต. หนองเป็ด อ. ศรีสวัสดิ์ จ. กาญบุรี)
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- 📍 Moo 4 Ban Thungna, Nongpet Sub-district, Srisawat District, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand (หมู่ 4 บ้านทุ่งนา ต. หนองเป็ด อ. ศรีสวัสดิ์ จ. กาญบุรี)
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- 📍 Moo 4 Ban Thungna, Tambon Nongpet, Srisawat District, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand (หมู่ 4 บ้านทุ่งนา ต. หนองเป็ด อ. ศรีสวัสดิ์ จ. กาญบุรี)
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