Integrating the Value of Ecosystems and Biodiversity in Rice Systems in Thailand

Focus and location The initial analysis is focused on the impacts of different intervention options for the promotion of organic rice in Thai rice landscapes in the Northeastern region of Thailand, where rice is the main crop. [...] The current organic rice production program target of the Rice Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC), to be implemented in all provinces across the country, is to promote the conversion of one million rai of rice fields to organic production practices by 2019. [...] The information from the survey also allowed to analyze the amount of fertilizer (NPK nutrients) used in the organic rice fields, based on the addition of manure and other biological inputs into the field. [...] The model showed that the use of machinery had the effect of upping the yields for the organic farms back to the same levels as the conventional farms. [...] The primary objectives of this program are to promote organic rice production based on the organic rice standard of the Rice Department and to increase the area suitable for organic rice production that qualifies for the Organic Thailand certificate.