Some stay organic

COMMENTARY

Published: 9 Aug 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

When the government pays almost 50 per cent more than the domestic market price for "every single grain" farmers produce, they naturally pump farm chemicals into their paddy fields to push up yields and grow as much rice as they can. Not Somboon Daeng-aroon, however.

Neighbours say he's crazy. But Mr Somboon believes he's saving the world along with his fellow farmers.

The 59-year-old from Samut Songkhram's Praeg Nam Daeng sub-district is using his 40 rai of paddy fields to prove how organic rice farming can significantly cut production costs, save the environment, and boost the health of farmers.

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johninbkk
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Discussion 10 : 11 Aug 2012 at 07.5610
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The author thinks that corruption, inefficiency, and fertilizer usage in the rice industry has never existed until this year. Seriously?
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oldairman
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Discussion 9 : 10 Aug 2012 at 07.049
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D@8mogy71
There is no money in it for them.

D6@nedkelly
This guy and more like him should travel to Australia and see how it is done in Sun Valley then come back and adapt the ideas to Thailand. Perhaps the Sun Valley growers could sponsor them for sure as c**P the government won't.

D5@pjt
A good sound idea containing too much commonsense and if you let any government or the Min of AG near it, it will fail.
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mogy71
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Discussion 8 : 09 Aug 2012 at 11.148
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Shame on the department of agriculture - again - for not supporting this initiative.
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commonman
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Discussion 7 : 09 Aug 2012 at 09.507
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Chaiyo! We need a lot more people like this man and a lot more writers like Sanitsuda.
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nedkelly
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Discussion 6 : 09 Aug 2012 at 08.466
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At last a Thai farmer with a brain and the will to move forward into sustainable farming practices. How many will follow his example? Not many unfortunately.

A good example for rice farmers is Sun Rice, Australia - the farmers grow the rice, harvest it, mill it, package it and put it on the supermarket selves or export the surplus. No middlemen involved. You never hear them complain about prices nor do they look to the government for hand outs.
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pjt
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Discussion 5 : 09 Aug 2012 at 08.025
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If Khun Somboon can see this why oh why cannot the government, especially the Min. of Agriculture and Co-operatives? Two thoughts - instead of blowing 100bn on a destructive scheme why not spend half that on a one tambon one rice mill project? We would get something tangible (so maybe less corrupt) and move farmers up the value chain a bit. Second, I wonder if it is possible to accurately and meaningfully test rice for chemical content - perhaps the pledging scheme should only accept rice below certain chemical limits
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oldairman
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Discussion 4 : 09 Aug 2012 at 07.114
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With a group of like-minded farmers, Mr Somboon has set up a community rice mill to serve organic rice farmers and small farmers who want to eat the rice they grow. At present, the big rice mills refuse to polish rice for them because the amounts are too small.

"We farmers must aim to cut costs, protect the environment, our health, and be self-reliant," he said. "And if the government isn't doing this for us, we must do it ourselves."

Good for him and his group. He IS showing the way of rice farming of the future as well as trying to break the rice mills cartel who are getting most of the money from the rice pledging scheme and NOT the farmers who need it the most.
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ggh
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Discussion 3 : 09 Aug 2012 at 07.093
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Very interesting article! Perhaps this concept should be presented to the government. It could be implemented as the model to be used to qualify for the rice mortgage scheme. This would boost the quality rather than only quantity.
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Renaissance
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Discussion 2 : 09 Aug 2012 at 07.042
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The rice pledging scheme is complete madness. The mad rush to pump rice crops with chemicals for the sake of increased yield will result in more crop disease, which will result in more and stronger pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides being used, which will result in more health and environmental problems. The soil has already been ravaged by decades of chemicals. This short-term, populist thinking will have awful consequences. The only people who will benefit are the rice mills, the people selling the chemicals, and, of course, our beloved politicians who are behind the madness. We will soon all be forced to eat organic rice in order to avoid eating chemical rice.
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johnbegood
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Discussion 1 : 09 Aug 2012 at 06.511
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What a delight to see a Thai farmer with a vision for the future!
Maybe the government could assist in Mr Somboon's program instead of wasting so much money on a scheme that is doomed to failure.
The Country needs people like you Mr Somboon.
Well Done!
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Some stay organic | Bangkok Post: opinion