We have had an alternative agriculture system for a very long time already, in the form of local (household) agriculture.  It is the small household planting of various species for household consumption - low external input agriculture.  Development of various agriculture methods that has received support and promotion over the years can be divided into the following periods:

 1984-1987

During this period there was emphasis on high input agriculture - chemical fertilizer and pesticides.  This ‘new age’ agriculture was hailed as a means of increasing villager income.  There was also emphasis on farmer’s associations or cooperatives as a means of ensuringa steady price for their produce.  In thes period farmers started arriving at the conclusion they were not meeting the successes that they were led to expect.  This was due to the increased overhead (input cost) which reduced their bottom line.

From ‘84 to ‘85, NGO’s in the North who were aware of the Issan farmer’s use of technologies appropriate to their situation (eg. mixed or integrated agriculture - as they could not afford to join the ‘new age’) started spreading these ideas to the North.  In February or ‘85 critical assessment began putting ‘new age’ agriculture under the microscope.  It began to be questioned whether new age or Isaan methods were appropriate for the North as both methods were focused on only lowland agriculture.  In 1986, however, concrete examples of success of ‘appropriate technology’ started cropping up: for example rearing fish in rice paddies in Payao (Payao Development Project).  In Chiangrai and Prae provinces there were successes in contour planting (with assisstance from the McKaen’s Institute).

Around 1987 an NGO that today is named Community Organisations Development Project discovered examples of successful mixed farming efforts in Chiangmai province.  So there was evidence of appropriate agriculture approaches for the lowland, upland and higland areas.  There was, too, much skepticism.

 1988-1992

NGO’s started studying the benefits associated with ‘new age’ agriculture.  It became very clear that these high input agriculture methods were, indeed, NOT a the answer for Northern farmers - especially the small scale or subsistence farmer.  It is the small scale farmer that is the predominant agriculture practitioner in the North.

In 1989 the work of various groups promoting alternative agriculture were beginning to converge.  At this critical time there was a seminar organized titled ‘State and Role of Alternative Agriculture in Thailand’.  This seminar was held at Kasetsart University in Bangkok.  the result of this meeting of the minds was an alternative agriculture network.

Oddly, at the regional level (i.e. the North), the idea of alternative agriculture was loosing steam yet at the lower levels alternative agriculture was succeeding especially strong.  contour planting was being particularly well received in the highlands of Chiangrai, Chiamgmai and Nan because of its successes in reducing soil erosion.  Raising fish in rice paddies in the lowlands and mixed agriculture in the uplands was slowly increasing.  Farmers were realizing success in the first crops.

Natural (non-chemical) pest management projects at the McKaen’s Institute together with associated appropriate technologies there were realized successes in applying neem extracts.  From this started the promotion of using substitute trials of neem, galangal, citronella grass and other extracts in both rice paddies and vegetable gardens in Chiangrai and Prae provinces.

The future role of the alternative agriculture groups became evident through various assemblies summarizing the lessons and technologies learned.  In the close of 1990 it was decided that these groups should enlarge their programs to include dissemination of villager knowledge and experience - their successes as well as their failures.  It was decided to make an effort to cooperate with various government agencies to the ends of increasing farmer self sufficiency.  These two goals were seen as not just benefitting the farmer, but benefitting society as well.

In November, 1992, the Alternative Agriculture Network organized an "Alternative Agriculture Seminar" or otherwise known as "A Week of Alternative Agriculture" at Thammasat University.  The outcome of this assembly was the confirmation of the genuine interest of both government and the public in the extension of alternative agriculture.

 1993-1995

In September, 1993 a Northern regional alternative agriculture forum was held at the government office of Northern Agriculture.  This office understood the benefits of the Alternative Agriculture Network (AAN) and wanted to help.  This seminar was a forum for farmers to present their experiences in lowland, highland and upland cases.  It created strong interest and encouraged the continuation of alternative agriculture methodologies.

In the end of December, 1993, the AAN of Chiangmai organised an assembly titled "Alternatives for Healthy Consumption and Healthy Environment" drawing representatives from Chiangmai University and members of the Environment Network, the latter increasingly representing the concerns of the consumer.  Resulting from this assembly was the establishment of a ‘consumer’s group’ and was the starting point of cooperation between consumers and producers.

In 1994 there were rapid advances in alternative agriculture development at all levels and there were many reviews of these advances, noting, especially, the obstacles.  From these observations a general plan was laid down as follows:
 1.  Various groups assembled together creating a general project foundation.  Each project embarked upon had its own leader.
 2.  Working plans for each annual alternative agriculture development project was laid down complementarily.  Funds were sought under the name Alternative Agriculture Network (since 1995).
 3.  At a national level, the AAN worked in information and training exchanges between farmers and non-farmers, addressing such issues as marketing, establishing standards and the general battle of alternative agriculture.
 4.  It would be best to continue following and assessing all projects.
 5.  Should provide assisstance in enlarging the product base - linking villagers as facilitators to link producers and consumers, and to carry out community scale marketing.

PRODUCERS

NGO’s assisted in the development of techniques and production knowledge.  Features of these activities include
 1.  arranging opportunities for farmers to exchange experiences and knowledge at provincial and regional levels, resulting in development of methodologies appropriate with the target land conditions.
 2.  More than 30 farmers established themselves as village or local models, their fields and activities becoming sources of knowledge to others.
 3.  Groups were formed to oversee production, processing and marketing; for example the Chemical Free Growers of  Sangampaeng and Samerng , districts of Chiangmai.

CONSUMER GROUPS

Varioius consumer groups interested in the issue of health and/or the environment and other organziations were showing an interest in alternative products, recognizing their inherent value.  In associating wit the producers, farmer’s confidence in alternative procedures increased.  In pursuing their interests, consumer groups had to work in developing processing systems, management and finally enlargement of an alternative network - both the consumer and producer aspects thereof.  Considering the number of stores starting to carry "chemical-free" produce and the stock of warehouses distributing such products, it began appearing as though society was changing their ways of thinking.

The national and regional levels of the AAN were intimate.  Change at the regional level would greatly affect national programs.  Ideology, procedures and duties were complementary.  It was believed that this intimacy was key to encouraging cooperation and success between government, farmers and NGO’s.

FORMS OF ALTERNATIVE AGRICULTURE IN THE NORTH

 The North’s varied topography can be divided into three general classes: lowland, upland and highland.  Each class has unique ecology and communities.  Appropriate alternative agriculture techniques found in the North, then, can be divided according to the class of topography.

 LOWLAND ALTERNATIVE AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS

 Mixed Agriculture: the planting of many types of produce in one field - sometimes interplanted with rice and possibly even fruit trees (particularly on the bunds of rice paddies).  Sometimes, on the more flat regions (eg. Chiangrai, Payao and Nan provinces) farmers will rear fish in the rice paddies.

 Low Input Agriculture: generally referring to reducing time and money invested.  Farmers will broadcast rice and green beans and cover the soil with rice straw.  No rice sprout transplanting is performed, thereby significantly reducing labour costs and time.  The rice grows well and will grow well under dry conditions.  Testing in Payao over a 3 year period has shown this method to yield favourable results.  Low input agriculture has been growing steadily in the Payao, Chiangrai, Nan and Lampoon regions.

 No Chemical or "Organic" Agriculture: harbours the use of organic fertilizers such as manure, compost, green manure (high nutrient plant matter) and rotational use of agriculture plots.  Farmers with large organic agriculture systems can be found in Chiangmai, Lampang, Payao, Chiangrai and Nan.  There is also the use of natural extracts from indiginous herbs and trees, etc. to control pest insects.  Extracts are readily prepared from such sources as neem, galangal and citronella grass.  They are used on vegetables and in rice padies.  Such extracts are not in wide use owing to a rather limited resource base but examples of their use can be found throughout the North.

 UPLAND AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS

 Mixed Agriculture: much like the mixed agriculture of the lowlands, the difference being that these agriculture plots are not submerged rice paddies.  Examples of such efforts can be found in Maeta subdistrict, Sangampaeng district, Chiangmai; Banbuang subdistrict, Toonghuachang district, Lampoon and at Doi San meun, Pai district, MaeHongSon (under the Forestry Department’s Sam Meun Development Program).

 Contour Strips: planting of beans or other plants following contour lines in order to control soil erosion.  It can also help to maintain some degree of soil moisture. One can also create contour strips using many other species such as fruit trees, local hergs, etc.  The incorporation of fruit trees and/or other trees may earn this practise an alternate title of ‘agroforestry’ in some circles.  Many examples of such systems can be found in Wangchin district, Prae; Maerim district, Chiangmai and Muang district of Chiangrai.

 Alternating or Rotational agriculture:  the planting of beans between rice harvests so as to improve soil nutrient levels - especially nitrogen.  This aids in improving rice yields (as well as providing a bean harvest or animal fodder).  Examples of rotational agriculture can be found in Chiangdao district, Chiangmai and Wangchin district, Prae.

 HIGHLAND AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS

 Contour planting: like in the uplands but planting the lines much closer together to account for the steeper slopes (approximately every 4 m versus every 6-8m in the uplands.  Examples can be found in Chiangkong district, Chiangrai; Maedaeng district, Chiangmai; and especially in Maejan district, Chiangrai and finally also in various parts of Nan.

 Grass strips - especially the use of vetiver grass as promoted by the Department of Land Development in the context of soil and water conservation.  Many such strips can be found in Maefaluang district, Chiangrai and Doi Sagaed King’s Project, Chiangmai.

 Swidden agriculture of the Karen: is a system of using one plot for several years and then leaving it to regenerate naturally  while using the next plot.  They use a plot for 3 years and then leave it for seven.  Examples can be readily seen in Maewin subdistrict, Maewang district, Chiangmai or Koonyoon district, MaeHongSon.