Environmental policy and administrative management

The project location is situated in the vicinity of catchment area of Chee River,one outstanding ibutary of the Mekhong River. Formerly viewed as a hydrologic protection forest area until five decades ago, the national policy has promoted cash crop such as tapioca, kenaf and sugarcane along with chemical substance which now becomes necessary and excessive.Forest encroachment for more cultivated land by both small and large farmers had been a serious problem. Many of the areas become degraded resulting in soil erosion while effect of chemical on human body is noticed. Presently, 80 % of sugarcane field in the location is purposely set on fire to get rid of trash and facilitate harvesting/plowing. These heedless activities is eventually contributing to the integrity of the Mekhong River and the world climatic condition- and must be regulated and reversed. With existing capacity and network, community members proposed to practice environmentally-friendly agriculture reducing cultivated land for cash crop and increasing native species for food and reversing soil degradation. Project goals or objectives (including GEF problem-area addressed by projects): 1.To reduce the use of chemical substances in agricultural practice and promote the use of bio-fertilizer 2.To promote the practice of integrated farming and forest agriculture in watershed area Activities to be carried out under project: 1.Building capacity of 300 members on production of bio-fertilizer , integrated farming & forest griculture , self-sufficient plantation and plant breeding (for 60 members) 2.Producing various types of bio-fertilizer and putting into use among the members 3.Practicing integrated farming & forest agriculture at least one rai / family 4.Establishing funds for producing bio-fertilizer in each tambol and for saplings Project participants and/or beneficiaries: 1.The target population is the primary beneficiary 2.In-Paeng Network in conjunction with the Department of Industrial Promotion and the Research and Development Institute Khon Kaen University Anticipated results of project: 1.Produced 150,000 kg of organic fertilizer and 6,000 litres of organic solution 2.Emergence of the followings: - 300 rai (48 ha) of integrated farming/ forest agricultural land -nursery group and Nursery Support Fund in 5 Tambols -Organic Fertilizer Supporting Fund 3. Aadditional 60,000 trees and 15,000 saplings

Thailand