This paper is based on the lessons of non-government organizations (NGOs) working with local people and their organizations in rural communities in the establishment of the Alternative Agriculture Network (AAN). It also reflects on the experience of the Sustainable Agriculture Foundation as the administrative organization of the “Pilot Project on Sustainable Agriculture Development for Small-scale Farmers”, financially supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. As a result of the pilot project, many local people organizations and networks were established. Many of them have still carried on their work after the pilot project’s termination, although some of them have re-organized themselves under changing contexts. The development of sustainable agriculture in Thailand continues to keep moving forward, making significant progress on self-reliance through farming system changes and to expand from the pilot farmers to other interested individuals and nearby communities. In addition there has been an effort to expand the role of the AAN to be more proactive in generating cooperation among various organizations and civil groups within Thai society. This work has resulted in substantial national recognition of “Sustainable Agriculture” as a national agriculture agenda.
In addition to the direct experiences in the establishment of AAN, this paper reviews other perspectives and local organizations/networks existing in Thailand. Hopefully, these experiences and perspectives will be conceptualized into principles and adapted for working with local organizations and networks in the near future. The lessons and suggestions presented provide support for the strengthening of local organizations and networks as a means for development of sustainable agriculture and the type of agriculture needed for the self-reliance of individual farmers and communities who are the base of Thai society.

What is ‘Sustainable Agriculture’?

‘Sustainable Agriculture’ is an important innovation of many farmers and communities in Thailand who have faced economic problems, such as indebtedness, low prices for agricultural products, uncertainty, and high dependency on external inputs and knowledge, resulting from environmental degradation of the farm environment. Farmers’ innovation has evolved with the support of both NGOs and governmental organizations and has broadened through collaboration with the wider sectors in society such as academics, interested individuals and consumers.
Sustainable agriculture is a concept which is fundamentally different from the mainstream agriculture system which emphasizes economic growth and markets. It has evolved in response to a changing world since the green revolution. Both the green and industrial revolutions made substantial changes to the agricultural sector in the world, including Thailand. Subsistence production systems were transformed into commercial operations which forced farmers to increase their farm investments and rely solely on external inputs including knowledge, technology, and farm inputs. This has lead farmers and farming communities to a point where they are currently facing an economic crisis. Farmers are also facing problems of health and the degradation of natural resources and environment. Further, most farm communities in Thailand are adopting to a continual degradation of local cultural, wisdom and social customs.
As one part of “globalization”, biotechnology has increased its presence in the agricultural sector. And agricultural problems have become increasingly more complex in the free trade era. Agriculture is an agenda which become deeply interconnected to world and regional trade agreements. This can be clearly seen in the issues to standardize agricultural products, control chemical contamination, and development and use of intellectual property laws. Therefore, farmers in this era of globalization not only live with increased complexity but also decreased power to determine their own lives and self-sufficiency.
Sustainable Agriculture is a new paradigm which is not only focus on increasing farm productivity, but an integration of socio-economic and ecological dimension in the production systems. For the AAN’s perspective, the sustainable agriculture is based on the self-dependency’s concept, the maintenance of freedom and dignity of farmers, and respect to the local wisdom. This can be explicitly seen in the definition and statement declared at the third Alternative Agriculture Fair and Forum organized in 2004:

“Sustainable agriculture is a way of farming systems that rehabilitate natural resources and maintain the balance of ecological system to produce good and sufficient food for the better quality of life of farmers and the consumers. The sustainable agricultural system would support the independent development of farmers and local communities for the happiness and survival of human being as a whole.”

Networks for Sustainable Agriculture: A Case of the Alternative Agriculture Network

As stated in the earlier section on sustainable agriculture, farmers are not technological receivers, but learners for self-dependency both at the individual and community levels. Therefore, the development of sustainable agricultural system needs to pay particular attention on the development of both individual farmers and their organizations. Farmer organizations for sustainable agriculture have been gathered to help each others for over a decade. These individual organizations have developed themselves into farmer networks for co-learning and coordination. So the farmer networks are a social evolution which is rooted in rural culture of sharing and helping each others.
In contrast to the modern world of globalization in which people have been changed from communalism into individualism through consumerism and modernization and become heavily depend on external factors and inputs. However, farmers and their organizations have their own dynamisms to the more connectivity and coordination when the paradigm has changed. And this is a significant social movement on sustainable agricultural development for self-dependency.
The Alternative Agricultural Network (AAN) has been established through support and facilitation of NGOs working at the grassroots in all regions of Thailand. It has incorporated self-motivated farmer organizations from many communities as well as academicians in some regions. In the early stages of establishment since 1985, many NGOs that work for poverty alleviation through agriculture and which had common interests to solve chronic problems in agriculture of small-scale farmers joined. They documented many cases where farmers that tried to solve their own problems using alternative methods not promoted by service agencies. For example, in Surin Province in the northeastern region of Thailand, Mr. Mahayu Sunthornchai integrated fish cultivation in his paddy field. Mr. Chalee Marasheang is another good example of unique mix-farming practices in Northeast region. And Mr.Kua Wongboon provides a good example of a local intellectual who practiced farming without using synthetic chemicals. In the Southern region, Mr. Lon Mudlee adapted Islamic religion and beliefs into fruit orchards. Similarly, Mr. Chalouy Kaewkong in the Central region innovates principles of Buddhism, known as “Buddha-Kaset”, in his farm practices. Mr. Wiboon Khemchaleam turned his degraded land used for cassava production into and agro-forestry system, using the principles/goals of production for own-consumption and then selling the extra products. In the Northern region, Mr. Somrit Yotsoi is among many agriculturalists who maintains traditional tea gardens under a multi-storey agro-forestry system. These people are among many farmers who are developing their own alternatives for solving problems outside of mainstream agriculture. NGOs have learned from these progressive farmers and have researched and documented more techniques and practices in alternative agriculture in collaboration with farmers.
In the early stages of working in alternative agriculture, we transferred technical experience and lessons directly to farmers, such as raising fish in the paddy field, mix-farming systems, and agro-forestry. After that, we continually developed the body of knowledge from the field experiences. Many field learning trips have been organized for farmers to provide them with direct experiences so they could adapt them into their specific farm conditions. Through these learning activities, many farmer groups have been organized to help members of the groups to change their production systems. These farmer groups focus on sharing their experiences, building up their own knowledge, and particularly in the northeastern region, sharing labor for water resource development.
After considerable experience in working with farmer organizations in alternative agriculture and building up the body of knowledge in collaboration with farmers, we became more and more confident with these alternatives as possible solutions. Therefore, the seminar for synthesizing knowledge on alternative agriculture in Thailand was organized in 1989. In this seminar, NGOs working in sustainable agriculture joined each other as a network, named the “Alternative Agriculture Network (AAN)”. AAN is loosely bonded without an administrative structure like an organization. AAN has shared common goals, concepts, and strategies. In the implementation, each organization in the AAN implements work based on the problems and environment of their specific regions. The AAN coordinates among member organizations for learning across the regions. The AAN is organized in such a way that opportunities are provided for farmer organizations to be direct members of the AAN. In this way, AAN’s members is comprised of farmer organizations, NGOs, and academics which provides for dynamic implementation.
In over a decade, AAN, has expanded and significantly evolved. It has influenced the continuity and development of sustainable agriculture in Thailand and increased the capability of farmers and their organizations to solve their own problems. And it supports the cooperation among members in the network. The key contributions of the AAN to the development of sustainable agriculture are:

1. A more crystallized idea, philosophy, or paradigm for sustainable agriculture.
A body of knowledge and ideas has been developed from tangible examples, cases of sustainable farming systems of some small-scale farmers, and from traditional systems that adapt through the period of time and still exist in some parts of the country. The AAN has disseminated its paradigm to the wider society. The definition and statement of sustainable agriculture determined in the first Alternative Agriculture Fair and Forum organized in 1992 has been improved and adjusted in line with the changing situation. The AAN emphasized to use “Sustainable Agriculture” as the development paradigm in the third Alternative Agriculture Fair and Forum in 2004 based on experiences of local communities and farmers in Thailand as well as other countries through sharing information and international networking. The AAN believes that although the rapid changing world is leading us to the globalization era unavoidably, the sustainable agriculture does not diminish, but expanding due to the higher awareness of consumers and negative impacts from chemical uses.

2. Development of knowledge. The AAN has organized forum exchanges continuously since the cooperation among NGOs started. NGOs organized learning processes with farmers groups and this has resulted in the development of farmers’ farms and the exchange of farmers’ knowledge. The knowledge developed came through the exchange among NGOs, academicians and farmers. Farmers, experiences come from knowledge rooted from local wisdom and ecological knowledge. This knowledge is specific to each local area and adapted by farmers for his/her own location and conditions. They collect sets of data, organize forums to exchange experiences, and synthesize knowledge. In the beginning they start with knowledge on rice-fish culture which was the basis of knowledge on integrated farming. This is because rice fish culture system requires water management, and farmers have to dig the trench and bund to keep water in the rice field. On the bund, farmers could grow difference kind of trees and others such as vegetables. At the same time, the success of rice fish culture has resulted to the expansion of both techniques and concepts of integrated farming system to more diversified practices, especially in upland areas such as diversified agroforestry systems in Northern Thailand.
At the national level, the synthesis of farmers knowledge has been done during the Alternative Agriculture Fair and Forum. At the local level, the work on knowledge development has been done through learning activities between farmers groups such as study trips and forum exchanges. This knowledge was shared among groups. In terms of knowledge synthesis, this knowledge was developed from local areas and new knowledge was changed under changed situations and social conditions. The AAN has uplifted the knowledge from farmers and community and has concluded that there were 6 patterns of sustainable agriculture: i) integrated farming, ii) organic farming, iii) natural farming, iv) agro-forestry, v) rotational farming, and vi) the new theory. In addition, there was other local knowledge on techniques or technology such as soil improvement, pest management, agricultural system design, post harvest farming including the knowledge on genetics. This knowledge is dynamic. For example, when farmers applied organic fertilizer for a long time, it reached the stage of zero application of organic fertilizer needed for cultivation. Or in some cases, the farmer used traditional microorganisms instead of fertilizer. The learning process was organized in many forms. In the case of the Kao Kwan Foundation, an NGO based in Suphanburi Province, they worked through the concept of “farmers field schools”. Farmer group leaders worked together to disseminate and expand knowledge after the phasing out of the pilot project on sustainable agriculture development for small farmers. NGOs work as supporters in organizing learning processes which is done based on the concept of self reliance and farmers participation. For knowledge on products management, farmers are currentlydeveloping this knowledge but it has not complete. It is now in the beginning stages and cooperation is being done with academic institutions. In terms of rice milling and the organic mill’s management such as in the cases of Kudchum Organic Rice Mill, or Surin Rice fund, there is a need to create a balance between community business and community development. They are at the stage of summarizing lesson learned. However, in many areas there are many patterns of market management such as community markets and provincial markets. These activities have served as a channel in disseminating knowledge on sustainable agriculture to consumers.

3. Development of the organization and network. As mentioned before, the formation of the AAN started in 1984. At that time the groups who practiced sustainable agriculture were few, or were indeed just individuals. Later on this developed from individuals to farmers’ groups, communities and expanded to a network. There are many examples of such network development such as the Alternative Agriculture group of Saelaphum district, the Alternative Agricullture Group of Thungmaiphai community, the Mae Tha Sustainable Agriculture Cooperative, etc. They are linked and connected with many communities and groups. They organize learning activities together. For example, some connect their members through market activities. In addition, they also connect their members through networks at the ecological zone level. At this level, it might be the network at provincial level such as Organic Agriculture Cooperatives, Chiengmai province or Chiengma Alternative Agriculture Network, Surin Alternative Agriculture Network, or Pattalung Alternative Agriculture Network. Or they may link their members based on ecology or location, for example, the Network of Langsuan watershed area with the watershed area in Ranong province. This linked was based on land use or common use of natural resources like in the case of Petchaboon mountain ridge. The organization and networking of these groups or network become clearer when farmers participated in the pilot project on sustainable agriculture development for small farmers. Farmers learned how to manage the project. Although some issues are complicated and not necessary, in many cases it allows farmer leaders to learn and adapt to the situation or problems being faced. After the phase out of the project, farmers still apply some activities such as member farm visits. However, all of these links and connections among farmers at all levels has a goal to develop knowledge and establish learning process among members. It also leads to food availability and quality, income generation, ecology and environment conservation and finally maintaining the local culture of helping one another as community members. Farmers and community members developed many forms of activities such as:

• The establishment of savings group and community fund. Saving groups and community funds were established as capital for group’s implementation and activities. Members participated in the activities through savings. It is also help members to understand the work and activities of the groups. This also leads to the support for members during times of sickness and education needs for children. Especially in the Southern Alternative Agriculture Group, they have a saving group which serves as a foundation for community’s activities. When the pilot project on Sustainable Agriculture Development for small farmers has started, a one-time budget was granted to change farming systems on sustainable agriculture practices of the members. At the end of the project, however, it was found that a revolving fund was set up with the budget and was expanded to new members. In some ecological zones, farmers pooled all the funds or capital in order to expand the development of sustainable agriculture and help solve the farmers’ problems. For examples, the members of the alternative agriculture group in Surin province and community rice fund were in debt. The farmers payed back the interest in kind. As a result, farmers had to pay the interest in form of organic rice. The Surin network fund was able to help farmers in releasing some informal debt through low interest rate loans. In this way, farmers had money left to invest in other farming activities.

• The exchange of seed among groups. The network has developed activities in exchanging seed which will serve as food bank for the community and the country. The work started by providing knowledge and developing farmers potential in the importance of seed selection and preservation as well as stressing the importance of native seed varieties. This type of activities will respond to the need of households, the community and the Thai society as a whole. For examples, the Alternative Agriculture Network, Northeast region, has organized series of activities and forums in exchanging rice seed and developed data on native rice seed grown in the area. They also gained information on the global and national situation so that farmers could understand and realize the situation and join in recovering local wisdom through the collection of native and diversified seeds. For the past 5 years, it has been found that the number of rice varieties collected by farmers increased from 62 to 132, and the exchange of seed is still going on every year.

• Product management and marketing. There are difference forms of marketing, and it has been done at difference levels from local, ecological zones, provinces to export level. Some organize community markets where farmers bring their own products and sell direct to the consumers. Some members come together and mutually sell their products at local markets. For example, the Alternative Agriculture group of Saelaphum district sell rice noodle and agricultural products in front of their office inside the community. In the case of farmers group at Lamlieng district, they bring their products to sell at the local market. In Thungkula Ronghai, in collaboration with the town administrative, farmers are organizing a green market at sub-district level while the Alternative Agriculture network of Yasothon province sell their products at Kammad and Kudhin sub-district. The pattern of marketing at provincial level also varies. In some cases, they coordinate with schools or hospitals and develop ways for farmers to have their own booths to sell their organic products in those institutions. For examples, the alternative agriculture network in Mahasarakam province and in Khon Kaen province with the hospital while in Surin, they coordinate with the town administration to open green market. In Chiengmai, the Alternative Agriculture Network has opened 13 markets while in Had Yai the Alternative Agriculture network opened a green shop to sell their products to consumers. In addition, the network has coordinate and supported one another with the direct sell of organic rice between the Alternative Agriculture of Surin province and the Alternative Agriculture of Chumporn and Krabi provinces. For export, these activities were done through the community mill and community rice fund of Yasothon and Surin provinces. Therefore, the role of the network and group is important in developing good quality products. The Alternative Agriculture network also took part in forming the Organic Agriculture Certification Thailand, which is a certified body of organic products. This helped develop quality control and certified products for exporting. This includesd the work to link with international organizations on sustainable agriculture and fair trade. However, the goal of the network focused mainly on the situation of farmers. Exporting is done to promote sustainable agriculture so there is a need to create balance between internal markets and export market and to establish the support among network’s members to have access to organic food and products. The market activities are dynamic because we had to deal with businesses and the changing of consumer’s demands. The work on marketing in the beginning was not successful. They faced problems with shortage of supply since the farmers production gave priority to home consumption. There is also a problem with consumers’ understanding and it required high management. In addition, farmers have no skill and knowledge on marketing while the NGOs had a small budget. However, they organized a seminar to summarize the lesson learned and adjusted its activities to become smaller and easy to manage. Farmers play a key role in decision making and leaned to manage their own products. In this manner, there are many local markets operated on a full time basis. There is a need to develop the marketing activities appropriate for each local condition and consumer demand. The promotion of sustainable agriculture is increased and more farmers are interested in the activities. So there will be more organic products sell in the market. At the same time, the competition of trading organic products will become more complicated and difficult to get access to, thus there is a need to establish new management and innovation in product management. The network tries to develop new relationships with other groups to open new channels for people in society. The Alternative Agriculture network, Kalasin province organized a rainbow plan project which linked farmers and a group of people living in Kuchinarai municipality. This project incorporated garbage management in towns as waste materials into compost. The members living in the municipality take part in garbage classification while farmers make use of waste materials as a compost or pig feed while some are sold for re-use. Each year farmers will bring farm products to give to people in town creating a good relationship and supports the culture of helping one another. The members joining the activities has increased from 3-4 families to reach 80 families at present.