Sanitsuda Ekachai's blog - Latest comments on Organic farming will save the day

In response to: Organic farming will save the day

Mr Midnight [Visitor] — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:03:49 +0000

Unfortunately the majority of people in the concrete environment of the citys around the world do not want to pay any extra money for clean and sustainable labour intensive food like organic or even a more difficult labour intensive clean and sustainable industry byodynamic food . As they do not even want to pay any more money for cheap carcinogenic chemically produced food also . If the ever growing population of people that live in the artificial urban jungle which the governments has to listen to unfortunately these days as this is where the vast amounts of votes come from that the politicians need to be elected into power . Were prepared to pay more money for their meals then I would imagine the wholesalers the middle women and men in the citys along with the people that run the transport companies would want to keep this extra money for themselves and the poor farmers would not get any increase in money or standards of living . No wonder the farmers around the world are forced to use unsustainable management practices that damage the environment as they are totally financially controlled and out voted by a ever-growing public that has been forced into the city and brainwashed as this is where the money is . Spending most of their lives working in offices skyscrapers factories then returning at night to rest and sleep inside a air-conditioned or heated cemented building can they truly have a understanding of mother nature and the so called politically Green movement ,what chance do these hard-working primary producers have of a fair day's work for a fair day's pay in a world that is controlled by professional economist that live on the 30th floor of a skyscraper . All you organic guys make sure you bring your industry into the modern world, I know you work extremely hard for the love of it all and have kept generations of people alive for a 1000 years but you cannot live on love alone. Unfortunately the world has changed the lot and you guys are human too and have made mistakes in the past, " good advice to all you organic primary producers" this is a great example the German nation which would have to be one of the most high-tech along with organic green political movement in the world have used large amounts of copper oxychloride in layman's terms blue stone . In the organic wine industry viniculture to control mildew and fungus diseases like powdery mildew mould etc ,this natural occurring chemical is a trace element which is only needed in microscopic amount as a fertiliser and unfortunately used in large amounts such as fungicides as grapes are very susceptible to fungus attack it has been and is still being used too much as it makes soil toxic and unsustainable . It is great to have responsible beneficial insects for biological control methods also, the most widely used organic insecticide and nerve agent is the natural organic chemical extracted from the African daisy plant, unfortunately this is quite environmentally destructive as it does not discriminate and kills beneficial carnival insects that eat and destroy plant eating insects which obviously are very beneficial in the organic world, remember that agricultural science is always improving and hole fully understands these days that the bottom line is the consumer controls the market . Their farming practices are involving an improving to suit hope fully a more educated and aware consumer "so keep up with the times all you organic primary producing guys as unfortunately you do not have much sympathy from your high-tech city cousins .

In response to: Organic farming will save the day

Teresa [Visitor] — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:37:06 +0000

I'm working for a company trying to promote our eco-friendly plant health tonic to farmers in Thailand. The biggest challenge is that most of the farmers only care about the immediate return of profit. I can understand that for small farmers, the slight drop of income does have a big impact on their life. However, I'm referring to those big farm and farmers who are quite well off. They are not even willing to try our product with a reduction in their chemical usage.

Thai govt is not doing a part in educating people. Every one seems to care about the immediate comfort & convenience only. Too many plastic bags, too many cars and too much air-conditioning...

In response to: Organic farming will save the day

Farang 26 [Visitor] — Mon, 25 May 2009 02:35:33 +0000

India's Congress Party's introduced a legally-guaranteed employment programme, offering at least 100 days work a year for families in rural areas during its first term in offce.

Some members of this new Indian country work- force have been employed in projects that improve soil quality, protect country streams and rivers and deliver other environmental benefits like improved waste management.

And this progressive measure has also delivered the Congress Party rich significant dividends. In India's just-completed general election - despite predictions - Congress won many more seats and it now approaches its second-term in office from a position of electoral strength.

In response to: Organic farming will save the day

Bucky [Visitor] — Sun, 24 May 2009 10:06:56 +0000

Wonderful article, organic farming and the environment still needs more media attention.

Last month I read an obscure article on Bangkok Post about the forestry department near Jatujak giving out free tree saplings for a mass reforestation project, unfortunate that it did not make much of a priority on the news.

In response to: Organic farming will save the day

KP [Visitor] — Sun, 24 May 2009 06:57:34 +0000

Using a thoroughly vetted best management practice in chemical application for agricultural purposes is one thing, but to be dismissive of the industry across the board is naïve. Carcinogenic characteristics of chemicals are based on a narrow sample population, and often extrapolated to establish health based benchmarks. Almost all chemicals, naturally occurring or fabricated, are harmful based on dose and duration. I intimately understand large multinational chemical companies leverage their influence on governmental and intergovernmental policies and take advantage of disadvantaged helpless populations, in its use and manufacturing process. But let us not confuse between the profit motive of these companies and the scientific advances in chemistry and chemical use. Verbose and knee-jerk opinion columns appear all around us that are shallowly researched with regards to herbicide and pesticide use, because it is easy to be a protagonist when writing in opposition to large chemicals manufacturers. It is important to educate the end user of pros and cons of a given chemical. Otherwise, ensure its access is controlled from the policy side. Those that are reading this and choose not to accept my argument, please read more about Dr. Norman Borlaug. Directly or indirectly we are all impacted by this man’s successes. He almost single handed proved Thomas Malthus' theory that our earth may be unable to feed its growing people wrong.

In response to: Organic farming will save the day

Wasan [Visitor] — Sat, 23 May 2009 19:01:14 +0000

I fully agree with you. Our country is food-producing country. We need to develop our own way of organic technology. The world is waiting for chemical-free products. Go-on!!

In response to: Organic farming will save the day

insanity [Visitor] — Sat, 23 May 2009 14:44:38 +0000

Monsanto, CP, buy off the government regardless of which party is in office, (Thaksin, Samak before, now Abhisit) and then pressure farmers to take up harmful loans, poisonous chemicals, detrimental GMO technology, and criminal "land reform" to either exploit or force out of business independent farmers.

People need to stop fighting about Red and Yellow and start paying attention to these real issues. Food on the table in Thailand affects Thais and foreigners alike.

In response to: Organic farming will save the day

Mark [Visitor] — Fri, 22 May 2009 17:33:18 +0000

Organic farming is the smart way to build 4 tomorrow. Thai farmers get much better prices for their produce and help nature and the next generation of Thais.