Abstract: This research is having a purpose to study environmental management in organic farm to sufficiency economy philosophy of farmer in Mahasarakham province Thailand. The farmer and areas for study in farm of Mr. Kamsing Malahom. Constructed in depth interview was used to collect data and also was assessed for its content validity. The data was analyzed by typology and taxonomy. The results of this study showed that in Mr. Kamsing Malahom’s farm have environmental management by integrating sufficiency economy philosophy contract. The use of renewable resources in agricultural value chain and created economic value for farmer as well.

INTRODUCTION

Organic farming is the form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and control pests on a farm. Organic farming excludes or strictly limits the use of manufactured fertilizers, pesticides, plant growth regulators such as hormones, livestock antibiotics, food additives and genetically modified organisms. Organic agricultural methods are internationally regulated and legally enforced by many nations based in large part on the standards set by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), an International Umbrella organization for organic farming organizations established in 1972 (Paull, 2010). IFOAM defines the overarching goal of organic farming as organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved (IFOAM, 2008).

Farmers have started to cultivate plants and domesticate animals with creating the agro-ecosystem balance in farms. Many of them have succeeded in the organic farming management that helps to generate organic or green products creating health benefits to farmers and consumers as well as income to farmers in long term operation (Tokeeree et al., 2010). A farmer who has been successful in organic farming and admired to be a local philosopher in the field of integrated agriculture is Mr. Kamsing Malahom, a prototyped organic farmer. The researchers has been working in the organic farm management in his farms at Kosumpisai district Mahasarakham province Thailand.

The sufficiency economy philosophy is the concept in management of environment emphasized by His Majesty the King of Thailand on solving problem at their causes. They save the cost, rely on knowledge at the local level, called the local wisdom and they were highly practical (Baojai et al., 2008).

Therefore, the researcher as an agricultural extension officer had studied environmental management in organic farm to sufficiency economy philosophy of farmer to develop communicating the knowledge.

The purposes of this research were to study environmental management in organic farm to sufficiency economy philosophy of farmer in Mahasarakham province, Thailand.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Collected data environmental management in organic farm to sufficiency economy philosophy of farmer by survey and in depth interview also was assessed for its content validity. The data was analyzed by typology and taxonomy. The farmer and areas for study in farm of Mr. Kamsing Malahom at Kosumpisai district Mahasarakham province, Thailand.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Mr. Kamsing Malahom is a local philosopher at Namthaieng village, Kosumpisai district, Mahasarakarm province, Thailand. He has been working on organic farming since, 2004 in the area of 6.4 ha until has been admired to be a local philosopher of integrated farming system in 2007.

Environmental management within the farm found that farmer can apply the concept of agriculture as a natural resource management practices in key farm. Management of soil and water in plants, animals, utilization and conservation of resources necessary for production such as procurement and preparation of bio-organic fertilizer fermented biological, herbal extracts, water, wood vinegar, round of financing, plant and animal species.

Farmers are ways to manage these resources to focus on continuing to benefit in the long run in terms of product safety and security of the food which is accorded to Mingchai and Yossuck (2009)’s research who found that organic farming a type of sustainable agricultural production organic farming policy was a unicentric approach having two forms of production: integrated crop based on the local standard and monoculture based on the international standard. Besides, an appropriate local public policy used for the development of organic farming must establish the policy network concept which the systems approach.

This must be integrated with local wisdom and body of knowledge. Also, participation process must be created and the importance of inter-organization relationship must be held. This includes the relationship among public organization, local government, non-government organization, business sector, academic organization, farmer and consumer network. The community can be the center for the movement of local public policy. For the paradigm of the system, the principle of sustainable agriculture can be used based on an institution being as the method of managerial administration of the system. Also, fair trading is an important goal of the organic farming system. And which is accorded to Kulwong (2004)’s research who found that according to the on-hand implementation, the farmers could witness the result derived from the organic agricultural practice as followed:

Economic aspects:

Social aspect:

Environmental aspect:

CONCLUSION

In this study, farmer can apply the concept of agriculture as a natural resource management practices in farms using principles of environmental conservation which does not cause problems and their impact on the environment and contribution to biodiversity in agricultural ecosystems.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This research has completed perfectly with a support and kindness of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chalie Navanugraha (thesis committee chairman), Dr. Rittirong Junggoth (thesis committee) and Dr. Nongnapas Thiengkamol (thesis committee) who have greatly given a useful advice and weakness verification from the beginning till its completion.