Alternative Agriculture for Self-Sufficiency Appropriate Technology

Kabue, Chitowan, Kathmandu Valley, Kingdom of Nepal

Feb. 1-10, 2001

We had 5 day Permaculture Design Course in Hasera Farm Phataleket, Kabhre, 40 km east of Kathmandu. It's at 1450m. altitude with a beautiful Himalayan view. Pictured are Thai and Nepali participants, Facilitators, and farm staff at Hasera Farm.
Sun Rise Farm
1. Sun Rise Farm located in a suburb of Kathmandu, is one of 9 model farms in the Permaculture group and has three purposes: model farm, Sustainable Agriculture training and Resource center for information and local seeds.
2. This vegetable and herbs mix garden wasn't plow 6 years. In order to avoid weed, vegetables are planted close together. They use local resources as much as possible and don't bring materials from outside.
Appropriate Agriculture Alternative
4. We discuss about organic product marketing. Neither Thailand nor Nepal have a national certification system. However, Thailand is preparing one and has already introduced "Northern region Organic Standard Certification Association".
5. There is liquid manure, mix cropping, a pond, a small green house and Agroforestry in a 1ha farm. They organise Sustainable Agriculture training and direct selling by farms and local women.
Vermi-Composting
6. Put soil on grass or coconut fiver in bamboo or wooden box, and add earthworms. Put some fresh garbage on to and cover with paper. it will become vermi-compost after 2-3 months, if you keep feeding the worms and keep the moisture. From left: Thai participant Ms. Jutamart, Ms. Srithorn, Ms. Krongkaew, Japanese coordinator Ms. Kitadai.
7. Vermi-composting doesn't smell and has enough moisture, has NPK. It's good for vegetable gardens, holiculture and mushroom cultures. Left: packed vermi-composting, 50 Yen/kg.
Local women produce it for their income.
Chandra Adhikari Farm
8. We moved from Kathmandu (1300m altitude) to Terai plain close to the Indian border. Mr. Chandra joined the Permaculture Design Course because his crops had lots of deseases 6 years ago. This bio-gas system is next to a toilet. After mixing cow dung and fermenting cow dung becomes bio-gas
9. There are many different techniques like mix cropping, mature compost by cow dung or nursery. This is sunflower for oil production and groundnut. He's researching Environmental Pest Management and local variety. From 2nd left: Mr. Hemanta (ICA Nepal), Mr. Chandra. From right: Nepalese participant Mr. Rosan, Mr. Tatwa (ICA Nepal)
10. There are various multipurpose trees like Leucena, Bokaino, Siso and Guava around canel.
Planting Jay (hay) is edible, not only for cows.
Biodiversity Conservation Center
11. This center was established by King Mahendra Trust 1989. There are several activities taking place e.g. wild animal camera trapping, poach prevention, community forest and agroforestry, as well as guide training. ICA Nepal had Social Mobilizer training with UNDP there.
12. Because of the danger of extinction of Tiger, Crocodile and Rhino and 5% of the world's birds, they make signs for environmental maps and wild animal conservation.
Making Oil
13. Chiangmai Organic Producer Association (COPA) is planing to produce soya bean oil. This oil-producing machine can make 35-40kg oil from 100kg sunflower seeds. Thai participants are very curious and ask many questions.
ICA Training
14. ICA International developed various training methods. We used two of them, ORID and Social Style by psychologist Mr. Narayan (left) at the ICA office. 2nd from right: Thai participant Mr. Bunthong.
15. ORID means Objective Reflective Interpretetive Decisional and is a discussion method. This "map" shows different character patterns or Social Styles.
Institure for Sustainable Agriculture Nepal Office
16. INSAN was established in 1986 because of over usage of chemicals and pesticides. Their main activies are: Sustainable Agriculture training and follow up, data bank and resources center and also publication and popularization of Sustainable Agriculture in villages. INSAN organised a Permaculture Design Course for us.
Permaculture Desing Course

17. In the second half of our exchange program we participated in a Permaculture Design Course in HASERA farm, Kabhre. HASERA means "Green, White, Red" in Nepalese and symbolizes "Crop, Milk, Meat" for integrated farming.
18. "Agriculture in different Countries"
Participants try to make a general agriculture pattern by soil and grass. There is a small vegetable garden, a fish pond for irrigation around the house. In Northern Thailand, rice fields are far from the houses whereas small vegetable garden, compost, fruit trees and rice fields are close in plain Nepal.
19. Mr. Govinda (INSAN) explains Nepalese geography and agriculture.
85% of Nepalese land is above 1000m and only 18% is good for agriculture, but most of it (90%) is already cultivated. 40% of all farmers have less than 0.5ha, but 10% have 2ha or more, they use more than 40% of the whole farmland.
20. "Chiangmai Organic Producers Association"
Thai participants are introducing themselves. They are members of COPA, there are 15 groups in 15 villages. Their main activities are participation in Sustainable Agriculture training, selling organic agricultural products, networking with consumers, rice bank and sharing their experience and solving problems togehter.
21. These are introduction photos of the Thai participants' farms.
22. "Soil Management"
Left: lime, drinking water and soap water. Right: Checking the soil's PH.
The same amount of water and soil in the bottle will seperate into sand, silt, clay and organic matter. In the upper right; comparing the colour of the soil.
These methods are used for soil management.
23. "Visiting a small Farm"
Mustard, wheat, onion and garlic are planted on these small terraces. Farm houses are made by brick or stone and have a livestock cabin.
24. Cauliflower or lettuce are quite small and have hybrid seeds in Northern Thailand where as the Nepalese cauliflower is bigger and seeds can be collected by the farmers. All Thai participants were surprised and asked many questions.
25. Discussing about Nepalese agriculture with local farmer. Cows are sacred animals for Hindus. Even small farms in the mountains usually have 1 or 2 cows or water buffaloes. This famer (standing) has got 10 goats, 2 water buffaloes and 10 chicken. Goats are an important cash animal.
26. "Intergrated Pest Management"
Using lots of chemical fertilizers and pesticides for monocultures resulted in poor soil and breaking the ecological balance, e.g. decrease of useful insects and increase of insect pest. Middle: Ms. Suochana (INSAN) Left: Nepalese participant Ms. Sushila
27. Sharing commerical organic pesticides for virus or fungus after a slide show. But COPA doesnŐt even want to use these commerical organic pesticides.
28. A great view of Himalayan mountains from the farm. Pray and sacrifice water, rice and flower to Shiva everyday.
Thai participants experienced the cold climate and snow in Himalya for the first time. They were amazed everyday.
29. We usually have session outside. Today's agenda is based upon Sustainable Agriculture. It is combined of social value, ecological cycle and appropriate technology. We always have to consider what technology we really need and how effective it is.
30. "Multipurpose Plants"
We found many multi-purpose plants in the farm like Uttis (nitrogen fixing), Sgandwal (root for incense), Flemingia (legume, avoid soil erosion), Tinetine (legume, living fence), Kalimente (natural pesticide) and so on.
31. "Making Natural Pesticide"
Prepare cow urine and spice plants like Chilli, Neem, Aloevera, Marygold and herbs. Mix it everyday and it will become a natural pesticide after 1 month. It's good for nursery, dilute it in 20 times more water.

32. "Introduction of Northern Thai Womens Group and Food Processing"
Shared womens group activity. The picture shows the hierarchy and sections of the group, with director, sub-director, consultant, accountant, secretary and food processing, advertisement and a resources section.
33. Processed food from (lower) left to right: soya beans, rice and red rice, all sold at a "Green Shop" of the Institute for sustainable Agriculture Community. From upper left to right: banana chips, with different taste, these are sold locally by the womens group. On the right: sweet fruit pickles, sold private.
All these product are part of the villages income generation.
34. We have breakfast and lunch outside, a basic Nepali food called"Dalbart". It's a set menu with bean soup, rice, vegetable curry and spicy pickles. Just after getting up in the morning we drink milk tea, in the afternoon tea and small snacks. Thai participants sometimes cook by themselves and share with each other.
35. Everyday we decide a "time keeper" and "reporter", who has to review the topics of the previous day.
A Thai participant is reporting.
36. "Slide show"
We had three slide shows covering Nepalese geography, wind break, grass land, traditional houses and festivals, irrigation pond, pesticides, rain water purification etc. and discussed about it thereafter.
37. "Visit Orange Orchard"
On this orchard, there is wide space between organge trees, mustard plants, cauliflower, radish and garlic. Compost has been added every year. Thai participants are amazed by the diversity of plants in this orchard.
38. "Permaculture Design Course"
All participants are walking to a farm to collect information about how we can change the learning center in order to gain more sustainibility.
39. We are drawing a map of the area. We have to think about the effect of our design on society, economy and ecology. This is just a starting point, the real design will start when the participants come back home.
From right: Nepalese participant Mr. Bed and Ms. Goma.
40. We had a traditional celebration called "Tica" for leaving. Farm staff put red powder with rice on our forehead and gave us a flower and a banana.
We go back to our own community and try to implement Sustainable Agriculture.

 

 

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