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Sustainable Agriculture in the Sustainable Agriculture in the Midst of Climate Change: Midst of Climate Change:

Bongotrat Pitiyont* Bongotrat Pitiyont*

and Vinai Pitiyontand Vinai Pitiyont**

*Dept. of Envi. Sci., Faculty of Science, Kasetsart U niversity, Bangkok

** Central Laboratory (Thailand) Company Limited, B angkok

Thailand ScenariOThailand ScenariO

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TopicsTopics

•• DefinitionsDefinitions•• General informationGeneral information Related to GW/CCRelated to GW/CC•• Thailand GW/CC perspectives on agricultureThailand GW/CC perspectives on agriculture•• Future trend by some predictionFuture trend by some prediction•• What are needed in the futureWhat are needed in the future•• ConclusionConclusion

This presentation was partly brought from:

1) Assoc . Prof . Dr. Sucharit Koontanakulvong , Chulalongkorn U.

2) Assoc. Prof. Amnat Chidthaisong . King Mongkut 's University of Technology

Thonburi

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‘Sustainable Agriculture ’• was addressed by Congress

in the 1990 "Farm Bill"[Food, Agriculture,Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (FACTA), Public Law 101-624, Title XVI, Subtitle A, Section 1603(Government Printing Office,Washington, DC, 1990) NAL Call # KF1692.A31 1990]

• means “an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site -specific application that will , over the long term ” :

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‘Sustainable Agriculture ’

• Satisfy human food and fiber needs ;

• Enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agricultural economy depends ;

• Make the most efficient use of non -renewable resources and on -farm resources and integrate ,where appropriate , natural biological cycles and controls ;

• Sustain the economic viability of farm operations ;and

• Enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole ."

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‘Sustainable Agriculture ’•• A wholeA whole --systems approach systems approach

to foodto food ,, feedfeed ,, and other fiber and other fiber production that balances production that balances environmental soundnessenvironmental soundness ,,social equitysocial equity ,, and economic and economic viability among all sectors of viability among all sectors of the publicthe public ,, including including international and international and intergenerational peoplesintergenerational peoples ..Inherent in this definition is Inherent in this definition is the idea that sustainability the idea that sustainability must be extended not only must be extended not only globallyglobally ,, but indefinitely in but indefinitely in timetime ,, and to all living and to all living organisms including organisms including humanshumans ..

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Climate ChangeClimate Change

•• TemperatureTemperature•• Sea LevelSea Level•• No. of rainfallNo. of rainfall•• Drought/Flooding/FlashfDrought/Flooding/Flashf

lood lood •• Impact to human being Impact to human being

and Ecosystem and Ecosystem •• Food and Water Food and Water

resources resources •• Ecosystem and Ecosystem and

BiodiversityBiodiversity

• Habitation (Settlement)Habitation (Settlement)•• Health & SanitationHealth & Sanitation•• Social and Economic Social and Economic ImpactImpact•• Economic growth Economic growth •• TechnologyTechnology•• PopulationPopulation•• Good Governance Good Governance

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Another involveAnother involve

• Emission control • Concentration of GHG and aerosols• Adaptation • Mitigation

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General informations:General informations:Climate variationClimate variation

Model w / natural forcings

Model w / natural and anthropogenicforcings

Observation

IPCC, 2007

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Average sea level

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Proposed sources of Avg. SL change

Source: Revised from IPCC (1990)

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Thailand GW/CC perspectives on Thailand GW/CC perspectives on agricultureagriculture

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The argument on agricultural systems

• Role of farming system vs climate change (CC) or

• Farming system is a root cause of global warming (GW) or

• Farming system has been impacted by GW or CC or

• Farming system is one of the tool to reduce GW/CC

• Average Sea level and agriculture

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Farming system is a root cause of global warming (GW)? or

• Where and how?– Methane and Nitrous

oxide emitted from paddy field?

– Nitrous oxide emitted from upland farm

– GHG and aerosol from opened burning area

– Waste treatment technology

– Utilization of fossil fuel in farming system

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Methane from rice production

CO2 202,458 71

CH4 3,171 23

N2O 56 6

Emission/Gg%

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NN22O in ThailandO in Thailand

What is sources of N2O • 98% from agricultu

re (Livestock)

• 2% from LULUCF &Energy

Wrage et. al., 2001

LULUCF: Land use, land-use change and forestry

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Impact on Hydrography

Some impact of hydrography can be distinguished by;

• Temperature (change)• No. of rain fall • Maximum rainy day • No. of consecutive drought

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AV. SL

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Temperature

PresentNear future (2015-2039) Difference

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Conclusion based on present indication

Factors/Model Near Future Far FutureAvg. temp. (0C)

Avg. rainfall (mm/day)

Violent (mm/day)

Consecutive raining (day)

Max. rain in 3 days (mm)

No. of consecutive drought (Day)

Period of no raining(Day)

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Case study of rice production

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Yield of Rice production on rain fed/irrigation area

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Adaptability trend in rice production

• Rice variety : short-life rice and high growth -rate (higher light synthesis)

• Production : Need reserved water resource

• Nutrient management : Must be integrated chemical-/organic-/Bio -fertilizer/fertigation and timing

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Another case of agro -production: cassava

• Year 2008/2009• Area 8 mRai

• Yield 29.154 mTons• Yield/rai 3.64 Tons/rai

11 acre acre == 2.4712.471 Rai

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Other impact: flashflood/land slide

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Flooding/Flashflood

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Housing in the midst of CS

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What are needed in the future.• All sectors (build up coping capacity to the coming

change)� self behavior adaptation with the change,� increase water use efficiency and implement 3 R measure s

(rationale, reuse, recycle)� modify system and operating rule(s) with new environmen t� modify or improve structures to cope with new environme nt

(e.g., increase storage capacity with ponds, floor rais e up to cope with flood etc.)

� modify product or plants to cope with new environment� share information and experiences with warning system� If possible, decrease GHC and increase green area to s low

down Global warming

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Conclusion (1)• Protection of groundwater resources� Improved management and maintenance of existing

water supply systems� Protection of water catchment areas� Improved water supply� Groundwater and rainwater harvesting and

desalination� Protection of economic infrastructure� Public awareness to enhance protection of coastal

and marine ecosystems� Building sea walls and beach reinforcement� Protection and conservation of coral reefs ,

mangroves , sea grass and littoral vegetation

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Conclusion (2)• Better use of recycled water� Conservation of water catchment areas� Improved system of water management� Water policy reform including pricing and irrigatio n� policies� Development of flood controls and drought

monitoring� Integrated coastal zone management� Better coastal planning and zoning� Development of legislation for coastal protection� Research and monitoring of coasts and coastal

ecosystems

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Thank you‘Terima kasih ’