Integrated farming systems network in Northeast Thailand.
Prof Sawaeng Ruaysoongnern, Khon Kaen University, Thailand

Over the past 20 years there has been significant development of upland areas of Northeast Thailand that has resulted in the disappearance of native forest resources. These ecosystems in their natural state are highly productive, however, when disturbed and cleared for agricultural production their inherent fertility and productivity rapidly declines and farmers are not able to maintain production levels without significant external inputs. Consequently, there has been increased out-migration of rural people to the city in order to supplement farm incomes. This migration has not only influenced the on-farm productivity but also negatively impacted on the natural resources of the area and family structures. Severe food shortages and nutritional issues have arisen for both the remaining family dependents and migrants. With initiation by a non-government organization (World Vision), a group of 15 farmer households in Dongbang village, Wangyai district, Khon Kaen province was approached in 1989.

Through a process of visualization the group was able to identify the biggest natural resource constraint was having access to sufficient water resources during the long dry season to enable them to undertake agricultural activities. They had observed that during the rice growing season there was some runoff from their fields and that it would be important to attempt to store this runoff. In the first year they took the risk of digging shallow ponds to harvest the rain water. This allowed them to store enough water to start the vegetable production and to grow fruit trees on the same plots. By repeating these water harvesting activities for the second and third years the group was able to grow sufficient food for household consumption and also to create a surplus for sale to nearby households and villages.
With the successes of this small nucleus group, a concerted effort to expand the group was initiated in five years after the start of this activity. The group expanded its activities within the district and gradually extended to nearby provinces forming an Integrated Farming Systems Networks called the South Khon Kaen North Korat Alternative Agriculture network. The network promotes various types of integrated farming system activities using the original concepts of enhancing water productivity. Currently, there are more than 3000 households that are active members of the network in the Khon Kaen, Nakorn Ratchasima, Chaiyapum provinces.

Once water availability was secure, the integrated farming systems were intensively developed. These activities included the conservation of agricultural organic waste, such as rice straw for making compost and the adoption extensive green manure systems for soil improvement. Poultry, pig and cattle raisings have also contributed to organic amendment development to the system. Apart from the improvement of water resources, soil resources have gradually improved for both upland and lowland farming systems. The primary objective of households is attaining food sufficiency. Thereafter income generation at the household level becomes the next goal that has significant add on benefits through the community and as well local scales. The concept of food sufficiency has also promoted caring and sharing culture in the rural communities.

From virtually a drought-prone area with limited potential, the area has been transformed into productive and sustainable farming system with low external inputs that most farmers are able to follow. Therefore, it is not surprising for the rapid rate of adoption of the practices, technologies. The large scale adoption has sustained the land and water resource system on these degraded sandy soils.

Integrated farming system on paddy bund in Dongbang village, Khon Kaen and the 15 years results.