lowland areas, with a population of 935,691 as of 2006 and average
density of 179 persons/km2 (Department of Agriculture (DoA),
2006). The Province is characterized by relatively low quality
sandy soil and long dry season from February to May. The average
temperature is approximately 34 C during the rainy summer
season (JuneeOctober), and 22 C during the winter season
(OctobereFebruary). The annual average rainfall recorded is
1239.7 mm with a total of 104 rainy days.
As per the national policy, the provincial government of
Mahasarakham had implemented several organic farming promotion
projects through the GOs and NGOs (Table 1). These projects
carried out various activities to promote organic vegetable farming,
such as awareness building, training on organic farming and testing
of chemical residues in the blood samples of farmers (Table 1).
Research & Development on relevant topics integrated with local
wisdom had also been conducted in the pursuit of alternative
sustainable agriculture. Overall, the projects focused on motivating
the farmers to grow entirely organic fertilizers- and bio-pesticidesbased
vegetables. In this regard, the provincial Department of
Agriculture (DoA) also plays the role of quality guarantor or quality
certification agency by providing “Q” symbol to organic vegetables.
Upon request by the farmers, the DoA carries out tests on the
vegetable samples and provides certification to organic vegetables
that pass the quality criteria.
Despite the continuous efforts made by various agencies to
promote OVF, official records have shown that as of 2007, the total
area under organic vegetable in Mahasarakam Province was only
about 400 ha, accounting for only about 4.5% of the total area under
vegetables (9317 ha). However, the result of the field survey conducted
as part of this study revealed that not all of the officially
recorded organic vegetable farmers are genuine organic farmers.
About 46% of them had been using both organic and synthetic
lowland areas, with a population of 935,691 as of 2006 and averagedensity of 179 persons/km2 (Department of Agriculture (DoA),2006). The Province is characterized by relatively low qualitysandy soil and long dry season from February to May. The averagetemperature is approximately 34 C during the rainy summerseason (JuneeOctober), and 22 C during the winter season(OctobereFebruary). The annual average rainfall recorded is1239.7 mm with a total of 104 rainy days.As per the national policy, the provincial government ofMahasarakham had implemented several organic farming promotionprojects through the GOs and NGOs (Table 1). These projectscarried out various activities to promote organic vegetable farming,such as awareness building, training on organic farming and testingof chemical residues in the blood samples of farmers (Table 1).Research & Development on relevant topics integrated with localwisdom had also been conducted in the pursuit of alternativesustainable agriculture. Overall, the projects focused on motivatingthe farmers to grow entirely organic fertilizers- and bio-pesticidesbasedvegetables. In this regard, the provincial Department ofAgriculture (DoA) also plays the role of quality guarantor or qualitycertification agency by providing “Q” symbol to organic vegetables.Upon request by the farmers, the DoA carries out tests on thevegetable samples and provides certification to organic vegetablesthat pass the quality criteria.Despite the continuous efforts made by various agencies topromote OVF, official records have shown that as of 2007, the totalarea under organic vegetable in Mahasarakam Province was onlyabout 400 ha, accounting for only about 4.5% of the total area undervegetables (9317 ha). However, the result of the field survey conductedas part of this study revealed that not all of the officiallyrecorded organic vegetable farmers are genuine organic farmers.About 46% of them had been using both organic and synthetic
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