Almost none of our cooperating farmers speak english and subsequently can not read the Organic Legislations in the original languages. Also it is not easy to transfer the legales of the laws into practical application.

Therefore we have spelled out ten simple rules as a basic orientation for the beginners:

THE TEN RULES FOR ORGANIC PRODUCTION in the context of Esan paddy farmers:

1. No application of any synthetic fertilizer (Such as urea DAP NPK …)- also not in the seedbed or for other crops in your rice field! also not “a little bit” !You can use your own animal manure and  compost. All external fertilizer and inputs need to be approved and documented as in compliance with the organic regulations by your group management.Fresh (uncomposted)  animal manure can be used only while soil and seedbed preparation. After planting only composted animal manure (composted not just dry)

2. No application of any synthetic pesticides such as herbicides, insecticides and fungicides (except such -mostly natural- materials explicitly listed as allowed in organic farming and approved and documented as in accordance with the organic regulation. - also for other crops in your rice field).Agreement: Don’t use ANY chemical fertilizers and pesticides.If not 100% sure that input is not chemical, ask the organic group management or Internal Inspector.

3. Wherever feasible include a green manure legume crop. Avoid burning of stubble, instead plow the stubble under.Prepare sufficient animal manure, compost ... and green manure cover crops Enhance diversification, crop rotation or intercropping (plant mixed crops).

4. Use organic seed, own or from other organic group members If you need external seed you must buy only seed approved and documented by your central group management. The group must provide documentation that no organic seed was available and that the used seed is not coated with chemicals.Therefore external seed must be procured through the organic group management. Recommendation: joint purchase and own production of seed by your organisation.

5. Prevent contamination such as spray drift and run off from pesticide treated neighboring fields.If your neighbors don’t use pesticides you are fine but if your neighbor uses pesticides, the buffer zone and sufficient high rice dam has to be established.In case your neighbor used pesticides talk to the Organic Group Management. We will try to convince him to go also organic, not appy pesticies or see what can be done about buffer zone

6. Convert all your paddy fields to organic (no “parallel production”). It is not allowed to produce the same crop organic and not organic by the same farmers. Moreover, all your paddy plots must be inspected and documented and before any of your rice can be sold as organic the last plot must be at least in conversion.

7. Before rice can be declared and sold as organic, the rice fields must go through 3 years of conversion. Three years of conversion are counted from last application of non-allowed inputs (e.g. chemical fertilizer, coated seed…) until harvest of an organic crop. The fields must be covered by at least two years of internal and external inspection before the next crop can be approved as organic.The conversion period  according to EU regulation:for perennial crops like trees and bushes at least three years before harvest.for annual crops;  at least two years before sowing or planting.For rice: Farmers who don’t use chemical fertilizer and pesticides prior to the rice season 2009 could have fully certified organic rice from the harvest 2011 onward. Before that, it is first and second or third year of conversion

8. Keep your organic rice separate from other rice (e.g. conversion rice) while harvest, drying and storage and always marked with labels and signs. Use only clean and labeled bags for your organic crop (no old fertilizer bags!) In case paddy is stored loosely in the rice barn the separate compartments must be clearly signed. 
Labels and signs must state at least the source (e.g. farmer name and number), the status ( e.g. organic or in conversion) and the certification body ( e.g. BCS)
Use only new and special labeled bags for organic production. Ensure separation of “conventional”, “in conversion” and “organic” products The EU regulation outlines some requirements for the labeling of organic produce.
E.g. the status of “certified organic” and the certification body has to be mentioned on all packs, also in the barn

9. Keep records and documentation (for yourself and for inspection and certification)Keep track ! Keep Farming Diary ! Keep all Receipts  of buying inputs and selling rice, both selling against cash or to pay for land use, machine use etc.Be able to show what went into the farm and where  how much rice went.

10. Agree and cooperate for internal and external Inspections. Inform the project on changes in production

These basic rules are explained and filled with life and sustance in the regular workshops and trainings we organize together with experts from the University of Chiang Mai and in the FTS Farming Newsletter we publish for our farmers.

We provide simple systems for keeping the farm records and educate our internal inspectors as trainers for the system.

Togehter with the the expertise of our farmers we work on the relevant positive lists of allowed substances. 

While we do not trade in organic fertilizers or seeds we do bundle and coordinate demand and assist our farming partners to received best prices and qualitites of inputs for their needs.