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While demand for organic vegetables has been increasing in Myanmar, farmers are worried about the possible impact of foreign and private investors who are or will be engaging in large-scale vegetable farming using chemical and synthetic fertilizers, as these might contaminate nearby organic vegetable farms.

Farmers raised this concern during the “National Consultation Workshop on Organic Vegetable Industry” held last August 31, 2012 at the Catholic Bishop Conference of Myanmar in Yangon, Myanmar. The consultation was organized by the Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) in partnership with the Episcopal Commission for Education of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar and MyanDHRRA.

Around 29 participants from different stakeholders groups of the organic vegetable industry in Myanmar — such as organic farmer producers, marketers and support organizations, including representatives from NGOs and government agencies — attended the event.
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Marketing of organic products where farmers get a bigger share of the value chain. Clean and renewable energy systems that are appropriate for rural communities. These are just some of the concerns of small scale women and men farmers in Asia.

The Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) arranged a study tour for its Cambodian member Farmer and Nature Net (FNN) and Laos partner Social & Economic Developers Association (SEDA-Laos) last March 2, 2011 in the Philippines in order to share some of the best practices of local NGOs and POs on these two important subjects.

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There are two things that make the subject of the ingredients that we use to make Thai food especially interesting these days. First, Thailand has an advantage in that we are an agricultural nation with ample production of these ingredients, whereas Western countries lack them in sufficient quantities and must import them at a high cost. This opens domestic opportunities to export ingredients.

Second, Thais are becoming increasingly aware of the health benefits of meat, rice, and fruit and vegetables that are produced without chemical fertilisers or insecticides.

Consumers are willing to pay more for organically grown produce that they can be sure is safe. When consumer demand for these products becomes strong enough, producers and agricultural workers respond by adopting methods that ensure their farms are free from the dangers associated with chemicals.

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CONCEPCION, TARLAC – In 2006, Alfredo Gonzales had problems with chemical fertilizers, which at that time cost P2,000 per 50-kilogram bag.

He found the prevailing prices of urea to be ironic, considering the wasteful practice of most farmers.

“When I traveled around [Central Luzon], I saw palay husks being burned. When I go to sugar mills, I also saw wasteful practices,” says Gonzales, a sugar planter.

But instead of whining, the sugar farmer decided to do something about it.

His 40-hectare farm, which used to be buried under 20 feet of lahar (volcanic debris) following Mt. Pinatubo’s eruption in 1991, is now the site of what is touted to be the first mechanized production facility for organic fertilizer in the country.

In a day, the farm churns out 500 fertilizer bags, which Gonzales sells for P240 each.

The product, which is registered with the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, goes under the brand name “Power” – Pilipino Ways for Environmental Reconditioning.

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Organic farmers or those aspiring to make the change now have more opportunities to obtain expert advice through the Industrial Technology Assistance Programme (ITAP).

The unit of the National Science and Technology Development Agency has spent the past year accumulating knowledge and developing technical capacity and is now ready to offer consulting services, said Phongchai Jittamai, the manager of the project.

He said ITAP aimed to have at least 30 organic farms apply for its integrated organic farm services nationwide within this year.

The agency is interested in particular in helping small and medium-sized farm operators who have struggled financially because of overuse of chemicals and pesticide, he added.

Read the full story at Bangkok Post

[Authors note: Dr Philip Revatha (Ray) Wijewardene, who passed away on August 18 aged 86, spent a lifetime being unpigeonholeable – which won him many admirers and a few detractors. Despite being an accomplished engineer, aviator, inventor and Olympian, he chose to introduce himself as a farmer and mechanic ‘who still got his hands dirty’. Unpretentious and always enthusiastic, he was one man who somehow managed to have his head (literally) in the clouds and his feet firmly on the ground.

Read the full story at Ground Views

Organic farming is an agricultural production system that is best suited in succeeding in the battle against climate change.

Prof. Oscar B. Zamora of the University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB), a convenor of Go Organic! Philippines, said promoting organic farming is a sound option for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

He said organic agriculture production systems are less prone to extreme weather condition, such as drought, flood and waterlogging.

Zamora, who is also dean of the UPLB Graduate School, explained that organic farming addresses the major effects of climate change, namely, increased occurrence of extreme weather events, increased water stress, and problems related to soil quality.

“It reduces the vulnerability of the farmers to climate change and variability,” he explained.

Read the full story at Manila Bulletin

Farmers are being encouraged to produce bio-fertilisers and pesticides on their own in order to cut expenses on imported chemical products and promote healthier cultivation.

The cost of imported chemical fertilisers and pesticides has surged along with oil prices in recent years. Thailand paid nearly 99 billion baht for fertilisers in 2008 as fuel prices soared to US$147 per barrel.

Needed farm essentials can be produced in farmers’ backyards using only catalyst products developed by the Land Development Department, said deputy director-general Chalong Tepwituksakit.

“We now know the use of chemical substances is harmful not only to farmers but also the environment, as soil and water quality become degraded,” he said.

Read the full story at Bangkok Post

PHNOM PENH, March 5 (NNN-AKP) — The number of organic farmers producing crops in Cambodia is growing thanks to efforts aimed at training agricultural worker in organic farming techniques.

The number of organic farmers registered with the Cambodian Center for Study and Development in Agriculture (CEDAC) reached 61 in 2009, up from just five in 2004 when the centre started to train farmers in the use of natural fertilizers.

Organic produce amounted to just 30 tons in 2009, according to CEDAC, which helps farmers earn a fair price for their produce at five shops in Phnom Penh and another located in Preah Sihanouk city.

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Bali provincial administration is currently developing 40 integrated farming locations with Rp 8 billion *US$860,125* in funds from the provincial 2010 budget.

Made Putra Suryawan, head of Bali Agriculture office, said such integrated farming development was a breakthrough that would accelerate the integration of new farming technology with traditional farming systems.

The new technology would allow farmers to combine their planting systems, growing major food commodities like rice, corn and soy within one specific location.

“Farmers can grow various types of productive food commodities and raising poultry or cattle would increase farmers’ revenues.”

Farmers would also have easier access to micro-finance institution and marketing of their products.

The technology re-introduces farmers to the organic farming system, long forgotten by the locals.

Read the full story at The Jakarta Post

Every year in Indonesia, thousands of rural poor migrate to big cities in hope of finding a better life. But for many of them, the dream never comes true. A private charity, the Learning Farm, is taking the opposite path: teaching former street kids how to grow green, it gives them a chance to succeed in rural communities.

Sulkhan treads carefully past shacks where goats are busy digesting the next batch of eco-friendly fertilizer. A group of around 40 young men is gathered down the path, at the entrance of a greenhouse. They wear muddy rubber boots, which clash somewhat with their tattoos, long silver chains and body piercings.

Sulkhan asks them to sing the Learning Farm’s welcome song, in honor of their guests.

The boys, aged 15 to 22, are attending a five-month program at the Learning Farm to become organic farmers. But Jiway Tung, the group’s director, explains the program goes beyond learning a new trade. He says his school is a school of life.

Read the full story at VOA News

In the last few years, food troubles have been making the headlines: pesticide-tainted dumplings, contaminated rice and growing concerns over food safety. No wonder more and more in Japan are turning toward organic food. Many restaurants now include a few organic dishes on their menus, but Yamafuji, a casual-chic Japanese bistro near Hiroo station, guarantees that all their ingredients are either 100% chemical-free or grown with the barest minimum of pesticides.

Read the full story at CNN Go