4 FINAL RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The results of ten years of implementation of the project “Enhancing the Adoption of Soil Erosion
Control Practices in Cassava Fields” has had a great impact on the farmers’ awareness of the
importance of soil erosion prevention. After testing various options to reduce soil losses by erosion
they selected the planting of vetiver grass hedgerows across the slopes as the most suitable and
effective erosion control practice. Presently, this practice has been adopted in 24 villages located in
eight provinces. Altogether, over 865 farmers participated in planting vetiver hedgerows with a total
length of 130 km in cassava fields, employing a total of 1.3 million vetiver slips. Furthermore,
farmers in a few villages adopted the planting of Canavalia ensiformis (jack bean) as a
green manure. In addition, 21 “Cassava Development Villages” were established. At
present, members of these farmers’ groups have access to a revolving fund, which range in size
from Baht 40,000 to 380,000 per group, with a total of Baht 1,475,868 to be used for the
development of these community (Table 5). The establishment of these groups is a way to
strengthen rural communities in the future. Besides, the DOAE tries to make use of the project sites