DECLARATION

WHEREAS:

• the practice of monoculture is increasing in the region, both in terms of area planted and number of crops; and
• monocropping has numerous negative environmental, social and economic effects in that it:
  • reduces biodiversity;
  • increases the danger of pests and disease, leading to increased use of pesticide toxins which endangers the health of producers, consumers and the environment;
  • leads to loss of soil fertility, thereby encouraging the use of synthetic fertilizers;
  • endangers food security;
  • exposes small-scale farmers to higher market risks;
  • reduces the need for labour in agriculture, thus aggravating the problems of urban migration, and leads to community and family dislocation and the erosion of local cultures;
  • often leads to further erosion of the status of women;
  • is ultimately unsustainable; and
  • violates the teachings of the religions of our countries;
  
  
  

  THEREFORE,
  

  WE, the participants of the Monocultures: Environmental and Social Impacts and Sustainable Alternatives Conference, held at Songkhla, Thailand, June 2-6 1996, call on our governments to:
  
  

  • recognize the negative impacts of monoculture and the benefits of agricultural alternatives;
  • revoke all policies, regulations, and practices that make monoculture mandatory; and
  • reconsider all policies, regulations and practices that either directly or indirectly, through credit systems, access to resources, extension services, etc., encourage monoculture;
  
  
  

  AND
  
  

  we further call on all farmers, Farmers’ Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations, People’s Organisations, Government Organisations, and international agencies:
  

  • to promote and encourage research into, and the practice of, sustainable agriculture alternatives, including integrated farming, natural farming, organic farming, agroforestry, and permaculture, which
    
    • are environmentally safe,
    • preserve biological diversity,
    • are founded in the local culture of farmers and their communities,
    • promote gender equity,
    • are economically sustainable,
    • respect farmer’s rights, and
    • improve food security and ensure access to safe and healthy food;
  • to recognize alternative forms of agriculture in formal education and training at all levels;
  • to align policies and practices to support such alternatives;
  • to encourage and promote alternative community-based marketing mechanisms that favour such alternatives such as full and accurate labelling, certification of organic produce, community-shared agriculture, etc.; and
  • to encourage and promote activities to improve consumer awareness of the advantages of alternative agriculture and of the negative environmental, social and economic impacts of monocultures;
  
  
  AND, finally,
  

  we further recognize and respect the wisdom, ingenuity and commitment of the countless small farmers of our countries who struggle daily to perpetuate what they believe is right and appropriate and what they feel can benefit future generations.
  
  

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  Action Plan

  
  

  Any gathering of NGOs and other interested participants whose work is largely action-oriented is always interesting and useful as ideas are exchanged and new contacts made, but if the meeting itself is to be a success then it must result in more than just talk - it must make some steps, however small, in effecting change. The Monocultures conference participants, as well as making the Declaration included elsewhere in this book, also agreed upon a course of activities that they would undertake in their respective countries following the conference - an Action Plan - with due consideration being give to the fact that not all things are possible in all countries, given the different political and financial situations the NGOs and others faced. They also agreed on follow-up meetings to discuss how well the Action Plan was being followed, and to what degree the desired results were being realized.
  
  

  Following are the Action Plans proposed by the representatives of the participating countries:
  

  Indonesia:

  1. To hold a meeting among Indonesian NGOs concerned with Sustainable Agriculture to discuss the Songkhla Conference and share the information resulting from that conference with them; in July at Kisaran, North Sumatra.
  2. To conduct a regional collaboration among NGOs to discuss a number of possibilities for further work, including apprenticeships, cross- and exchange visits, cooperation on common SA issues between Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, to develop a common campaign strategy among NGOs from the three countries concerning SA, to welcome guests and exchange speakers on study trips, and to seek markets for organic produce; meeting in October in North Sumatra.

  
  

  Malaysia:

  1. Recognizes the need for more technical support for funders - i.e. a need for more information on disease and fungus control rather than insects;
  2. More NGO extension programs to train farmers, since they cannot depend on government extension programs;
  3. Working to provide some form of financial support for farmers making the transition from chemical-based to SA for farmers;
  4. Promoting more consumer awareness and building a consumer base for SA products;
  5. Trying to begin a government campaign against pesticides;
  6. Recognizing that it is not easy for 'little' people to tell the government what to do, therefore focusing on farmers and farmer-to-farmer exchange to spread the SA message;
  7. Work on increased cooperation between SA groups in the three countries represented at the conference, especially in the areas of information exchange, farmer exchange programs, marketing information, etc.

  
  

  
  
  Thailand:

  Thailand has many NGOs working in various fields related to SA, and since there were many Thai NGOs represented at the conference, it was felt easier and perhaps more appropriate to have suggestions from two sections - the South, and the Northeast (Isan):
  
  

  A: South Thailand:
  

  1. It is important to improve the communication and education campaign, through both formal and informal media - radio, television, newspaper and magazine - in order to make people and farmers more aware of the advantages of SA;
  2. Propose to the government that it supports SA as well as rubber plantations;
  3. Undertake case studies to demonstrate value and practicality of SA methods, and reach out to other communities;
  4. Between countries, especially regionally:
     
     • a series of conferences, workshops, seminars etc. on different levels (i.e. farmer-to-farmer, academic, researcher, government, NGO, etc.)
     • establish an international newsletter to provide a forum for exchange of information and solidarity;
     • develop a common international policy for SA, and encourage the three governments to attempt the same.

  
  

  B. Northeast Thailand:
  

  1. Continued work in supporting the SA network in the northeast;
  2. Promote Local Wisdom to the government, prove there are people and methods which are effective; use of media, etc.
  3. Workshop on the problems with Eucalyptus plantations in Indochina countries;
  4. Work on the issue of land rights and titles; campaign the government, etc.
  5. Encourage local villagers to be a larger part of the SA movement, protecting nature, etc.
  6. Support local organisations that work with villagers, and local wisdom;
  7. Produce media material which is easy to understand for the villagers on SA.

  
  

  Working Together Regionally/Internationally:
  

  1. Establish a common and regular means of technical information exchange;
  2. More farmer-to-farmer exchange programs;
  3. Regular workshops, seminars and/or conferences to further cooperation between SA groups in the region;
  4. Common strategies to promote consumer awareness of SA products;
  5. Production of common media materials for both producers and consumers in the three countries.

  
  
  

  
  
  

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