The destructive consequences generated by the widespread use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the mass cultivation of cash crops has become increasingly apparent over recent years.

According to many farmers, this has brought about a deterioration in soil quality and has also damaged the environment, as well as potentially damaging the farmers' health and increasing their indebtedness.

In an effort to promote a more sustainable and healthy alternative, many concerned authorities, influential farmers, and workers from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have recently put a greater focus on organic farming.

Located on the outskirts of Suphan Buri province's Muang district, Daycha Siripatra has long been a supporter of sustainable farming methods. And as the president of the Khao Kwan Foundation, Daycha is aiming high in the hope of moving towards even more natural forms of rice farming.

100% natural
“Let Mother Nature take care of everything to provide the right balance,” says Daycha, who was born in Suphan Buri, a province where most people are involved in the cultivation of rice.

The idea of 'natural' farming is very close to organic farming, which forbids the use of chemical-based fertilizers and pesticides. However, natural farming goes beyond this and the concept would likely cause quite a surprise among farmers who are unfamiliar with it.

Daycha says natural farming is actually a form of agriculture that doesn't use any form of external stimulation, such as pesticides or fertilizers. The only kind of input is natural, and the concept respects wholly the laws of nature.

Unlike organic farming, natural farming forbids the use of forms of pesticides and fertilizers, including herbal pesticide and compost.

“We don't use pesticides in order to let the ecological system in the rice fields return to normal so that all kinds of insects and other living beings can return to live there naturally,” Daycha says.

This would allow nature to take its course in determining a hierarchy among the various creatures living on the land. According to Daycha, this methodology can actually lead to a decrease in pests and diseases.

To prepare the soil for growing crops, Daycha instead promotes the use of natural micro-organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, archaea, and protists, which he collects from a nearby forest. Such creatures can naturally improve the condition of the soil, he says.

This method is not only more natural, it cuts costs for farmers since they no longer need to spend money on chemical pesticides or fertilizers and can reduce labor costs, too, since there's no longer any need to produce compost-based fertilizer, Daycha says.

Farmers tend to begin by trying out the methods on a small plot of land before expanding the ideal throughout their farms.

Daycha says farmers need a good deal of patience and devotion in order to experience positive results and outcomes. However, he says a lot of farmers tend to ignore the natural farming system since the use of chemicals has become ingrained, and is therefore the habit is difficult to break.

“The most difficult part is changing farmers' attitudes when it comes to the use of pesticides,” he says. “Many just can't imagine growing crops without first killing the insects. They don't want to believe us sometimes even when we show them the results from our naturally-farmed rice fields.”

Daycha even refers to his religious beliefs in trying to promote the concept of natural farming, pointing out that the use of pesticides results in the deaths of millions of insects, which must lead to some kind of effect, according to commonly-held Buddhist principles.

Benefits for the community, society
Natural farming can also provide a form of sustainable cultivation, promoting self-reliant farming communities, Daycha says.

He says that as farming communities grow in strength, farmers can gain an improved standard of living. As well as improving the lives of farmers, it can also help others.

“Natural farming doesn't only help the farmers, it's also a way to express concern about the environment in general, as well as other people's well-being,” he says.