A strong case for diversity
This issue of ILEIA Magazine addresses opportunities and constrains in developing LEISA. Articles analyze experiences in Kenya, Brazil Thailand Philippines, Ghana, India China and Cuba.
Table of contents:
-
3 - 5written by Jean Marc von der WeidThis case study deals with the analysis of the situation of small-scale family farming in Tauá municipality in the state of Ceará, Northeastern Brazil and the participatory process farmers of Tauá and staff of ESPLAR and AS-PTA were involved in to formulate the Agroecology Development Plan. The practical experiences of farmers and scientific insights of project staff were merged to provide the basis for the wider development plan, which involves the whole municipality. The process was started on request of the small farmers' union, putting forward to the NGOs the need to adopt a scale of activities wider than in any other NGO experience in Brazil.
-
6 - 10The Overseas Development Institute in collaboration with scientists of the University of Nairobi analysed agricultural development in Machakos District over the period 1930-90. The results of this study show a trend in land use from degradation to enhanced sustainability despite a yearly population increase of more than 3%. The authors focus on management of scarce production factors: land, moisture, soil fertility, fodder and capital.
-
11 - 12written by Penny Levin , Vitoon R. PanyakulTo break out of the vicious circle of agro-industry, farmers and NGOs united in the Alternative Agriculture Group try to develop Sustainable Agriculture. Although farmers increasingly switch to this agricultural approach, the rate of 0.4% of the total number of 5 million farmers is still very low. Four important factors which keep farmers from changing to alternative practices are analysed in this article.
-
13 - 14written by Bantorn , Boonmathya, JarinExample of a model farmer.
-
15 - 20written by Kees Manintveld , Coen ReijntjesFor nine years the ILEIA has been publishing many cases on development towards Sustainable Agriculture. LEISA, Organic Agriculture and other alternative approaches are steadily gaining ground. But is there scope for a wider application than in isolated cases of success? And what are opportunities and constraints for development of sustainable agriculture? In this issue several authors analyse experiences with implementing sustainable agriculture. This editorial, supplemented with the opinions of some resource persons, tries to give an overview.
-
21 - 21written by Vanaja RamprasadThe original intentions of the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT) were to facilitate free trade by encouraging removal of any barriers. Meanwhile GATT has emerged as a giant that has taken control of the economics of the entire world. There is a major misconception, namely that agricultural liberation means more freedom for farmers who can produce for the export market and thus increase their wealth. However, prices are not determined by competitiveness in cost of production but by political control over the world agricultural trade. Secondly, it is obvious that not farmers export agricultural produce but corporations control the trade.
-
22 - 22written by Montemayor, LeonardoThe massive and increasing use in most of the Philippine cultivated areas of chemical or inorganic fertilisers, pesticides, weedicides and other farm inputs has greatly contributed to the cumulative decrease of soil fertility and the destruction of aquatic and semi-aquatic life in the fields as well as in creeks, rivers, ponds, lakes and parts of the sea...... Therefore, in his capacity as a member of the House of Representatives, the author filed a bill on the promotion of bio-organic farming.
-
23 - 23written by Luo ShimingThe concept of ecological agriculture in China is based on the agroecosystems approach combining design and management according to economical, ecological and systems theories. The goal of ecological agriculture is sustainability both economically and ecologically. Since 1978 some 1,200 ecological model farms have been set up in China. Under high population pressure and scarce resources, village leaders and researchers are moving in this direction. A review of activities so far shows some major obstacles in research and extension to further spread the idea.
-
24 - 25written by Jan Joost Kessler , Margreet MoolhuijzenThis article presents the findings of field surveys in the Philippines and Ghana to analyse the applicability of Low-External-Input and Sustainable Agricultural (LEISA) techniques and their contribution to sustainability of farm systems in different field conditions. Although success has been demonstrated in many cases, serious limitations are indicated as well.
-
26 - 27"What is and can be the role of NGOs in matching sustainable landuse with the alleviation of deteriorating living conditions of the rural poor, giving due weight to differentiating factors such as gender and socio-economic status?"
-
28 - 29written by Medea Benjamin , Peter RossetIn November 1992, a 20 member international scientific delegation organised by "Global Exchange" travelled to Cuba. The purpose of the mission was to report on changes that had taken place in Cuban agriculture since the 1990 collapse of the nation's trading relations with the socialist countries. The following information is based on the report of this mission "Two Steps Backward, One Step Forward. Cuba's Nationwide Experiment with Organic Farming" edited by Peter Rosset and Medea Benjamin.
-
30 - 33written by Wim HiemstraThe issue 2 of 1993 focused on "Cutting back on chemicals" in (former) Green Revolution areas. Readers were asked to reflect on the content, to question its conclusions and to respond with arguments based on their own practical experience. A compilation of the reactions of fourteen readers is given below. Edited by Wim Hiemstra.
-
34 - 36written by V. SanthakumarIndia also follows the route of economic liberalisation for the last two years. Subsidies have been reduced or eliminated and this affected agriculture more than any other sector: the cost of phosphate and potash fertilisers have gone up thrice or more. However, the subsidy on nitrogenous fertilisers has been retained until now.
Print this