Environmental policy and administrative management

Lamphoon Province s Thunghuachang District is a watershed area of the Li River, one of the four major rivers of the province. A mountainous area with limited cultivated land, the district is a residence of the local Thai and of the ethnic minority Kareni. Majority of these population earn their living through agricultural practice. The traditional crops range from paddy (both transplantation and direct plantation) for consumption and longan. As to cash crop, corn is ranked number one tailing by potatoes and Japanese bean respectively . A series of open forum discussing environment and natural resources degradation in the district indicated that majority of target population still practiced unsustainable agriculture and possessed misconception which led to current problems and issues. For example, in order to ensure expected yields, farmers opted to applied chemicals substances of various kinds. In order to facilitate farming practice, machine was introduced. And in order to get rid of unwanted plants or agro-waste, burning was the first option, rather than resorting to appropriate agro-waste management. This misconception and persistent practice have unavoidably resulted in degradation of land , water and atmosphere. Established originally as a watershed conservation group, the network gained sufficient experience and skill in rural development process through the intervention of CARE Thailand during 1998-2001.With existing capacity, the network aimed to build capacity of target population so that alternatives to the malpractice would be demonstrated and kept on. Project participants and/or beneficiaries: 1. Community members in 11 villages of Tambol Baanpuang are primary beneficiaries 2. Rak Thai Foundation 3. Development Committee of Tambol Thung Huachang and Takhianpom 4. Tambol Administrative Organizations Activities to be carried out under project: - Launching study tours, seminars and workshop on related subjects - Providing training on organic compost production - Meeting amongst lead members for formulating implementation ,monitoring and dissemination plans - Conducting training on chemical use and agro-waste management - Producing organic compost in both solid and liquid form and putting into use appropriately - Allotting areas as demonstration plots - Compiling lessons learnt for wider dissemination - Conducing open seminars leading to solution of the Li watershed as a whole - Setting up mobile forum to discuss with small farmers groups in the area - Compiling reports on result of the project

Thailand