Yesterday after visiting the Organic Vegetable Market in Vientiane, Laos, I visited one of the farms that supplies fresh organically grown vegetables to the market. The 8 hectare farm is located at Thaxang, about 60 km from Vientiane. It is operated by 16 families, working together for the the last 3 years as an Organic Farming Group. It was a pleasure to visit the farm, with all the freshness around and the friendly farmers who are so willing to share their organic production system experiences with visitors. While I was there, some urban folks came visiting with their children. I suppose it is a good education for the children to learn how the vegetables they eat are being grown.
In this small size farm, various vegetables are grown under rain shelters. Morning glory, tomatoes, lettuces, coriander, egg plants, chillies, mustard, cabbages, carrots, lemon grass and others are nicely cultivated on beds and growing very well. As an organic practice, the farmers use paddy husk as mulch on the vegetable beds which would eventually decompose and provide nutrients to the plants. The paddy husk mulching would also reduce moisture loss from the beds. Paddy husk is abundantly available at no cost, as there many paddy farms in the vicinity. The paddy farmers had just recently harvested their crop.
The organic farmers are using under-ground water to water their vegetables. Pipes are sunk into the ground and water is pumped out using a motor. The farmers are applying cow-dung as fertilisers. As a requirement for organic farming, no chemical pesticides or inorganic chemical fertilisers are applied. The farm, under the guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, is certified by a reputable Swiss Organic Certification organisation.
According to the farmers, although people are aware of the value and benefits of consuming organic products, they are still not willing to pay a premium price for the products. However, the incentive for the farmers is that they now have ready market access for their organic produce. Their produce are sold in the Organic Market in Vientiane.
I wish the farmers every success in their organic farming business. Farmers practicing organic farming system face higher risk than farmers practicing conventional systems, especially in the management of pests and diseases, and agronomic practices. There is no "quick fix" like spraying chemicals to rid the farm of pests and diseases. Failure to comply with the requirements of organic practices and protocols may lead to the withdrawal of their organic certification which is a highly prized Quality Assurance statement for food safety.
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| Blogger in blue T-shirt with the farmers |
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| The organic vegetable farmers |
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| Vegetables growing under rain shelters |
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| Lettuces growing very well |
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| Coriander |
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| Farmer tending the farm |
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| Tomatoes |
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| Morning Glory |
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| Bushy Coriander |
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| Rain shelters |
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| Under ground piping |
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