Environmental research

Livelihood of target population depends upon agricultural practice of two patterns: small rice farming for household consumption and ,on limited scale, mono-crop plantation, such as sugar-cane, tapioca and kenaf, for sales. Average farming area is one ha for rice farming while two ha for mono-crops. Preparing and maintaining soil for these crops are mostly through small tractors and chemical fertilizer. The average diesel oil consumption of is 10 litres/ha. As one litre of used diesel generates 2.8 kg. of carbon dioxide, this rate of consumption results in a great quantity of accumulated greenhouse gas, which could cause global warming and successive climatic variance. In the past, community production resorted to animals which, evidently, resulted in a low community expense and greenhouse gas emission. Therefore, re-introduction of native animals, especially water buffaloes, in farming ,replacing fossil fuel -consuming machine ,can help avoid adding up to the global greenhouse gas. Besides, the manure of the animals ,a natural fertilizer, can further help reduce the expense of target population, especially on chemical fertilizers and slow the rate of chemical run-off to the Phong River ,an ecological portion of the Mekhong River. Project participants and/or beneficiaries: 1.Selected 28 club members are primary beneficiaries. 2.Remaining members are secondary beneficiaries / impacted population 3.The Ubolrat Dam Self-Help Project provides cash and in kind contribution 4.The Rehabilitation and Development of Ecosystems of Phong River provides cash and in kind contribution 5.NGO-COD Northeast provides cash and in kind contribution Activities to be carried out under project: -Procuring water buffaloes and putting into use in paddy and other mono-crop farming practices - Redistributing water buffaloes for other members of the club - Conduction seminars and study tours on energy conservation and renewable energy technology - Producing organic compost by using animal manure Anticipated results/Immediate Outputs of project: -Reduction of diesel consumption, thus increase income, by 50-55 % / participating families - approximately six-month old 20 water buffaloes being distributed to and put to similar use by new 20 members - Members capable of articulating on the learnt subjects - More members received into the club membership - Reduction of chemical fertilizer by 250 Kg./family/year, equivalent to the saved Baht: 20,000 per/family per year

Thailand