Syntropic Farming ... an alternative for Thailand?

**David48atTD** · 14-07-2018, 02:57 AM

Syntropic farming was developed in Brazil, where there are now large-scale plantations

Move over biodynamic and organic farming — there is a new farming technique on the block, in which
fruit and vegetable crops are grown in conjunction with trees.

Known as syntropic farming, it is a regenerative agricultural cropping method developed in Brazil that aims to mimic
the way forest plants work symbiotically to grow in abundance.

The horticulturalist (interviewed for this article) initially scoffed at a suggestion to plant eucalyptus trees alongside fruit trees.

"My brain just went into conniptions. It went 'Eucalypts, no way. They're hungry, they're thirsty, they're mongrel things'.
"I had to tell my brain to shut up."
She ended up taking the advice and has not regretted the decision.

"As we're using them [eucalypts] in the system, they actually act like a water nutrient pump," she said.
"They're able to access nutrition and minerals that are right deep down in the soil and bring them up, and through pruning
it then releases it into the sub-soil."

Syntropic Farming ... an alternative for Thailand?-9986072-3x2-large-jpg

Syntropic Farming ... an alternative for Thailand?-9986072-3x2-large-jpg

At a syntropic farm in sub tropical Australia, avocados have been planted alongside limes, bananas, paw paws and
eucalyptus trees.

Using forest concepts in food production

Intensive pruning of large tree species is among the key principles of the syntropic farming system.
It is the brainchild of Swiss farmer Ernst Gotsch, who purchased 480 hectares of degraded farming land in Brazil in 1984.
Mr Gotsch spent some time observing his natural rainforest surroundings and learning from the native indigenous
people, before using his newfound knowledge to grow his own crops.

Australian farmer Thiago Barbosa has worked with Mr Gotsch on successive syntropic farming projects in Brazil and is a
forerunner of the technique in Australia.
"The most abundant system that we have on the planet is the rainforest, and with crops we are trying to move to
abundance," he said.

Other methodologies taken from the forest include the maximisation of photosynthesis through controlled
access to sunlight, natural ground covers and natural succession.

"One plant's always nurturing the new generation to come so there are always young plants under big trees and these
big trees are always nurturing the forests of the future," he said.

Long-term benefits outweigh high start-up costs

The fewer inputs required when the system is established is considered the major benefit.
However, Ms Hawes said starting out took some money and planning.

"The mapping and the planning takes a little bit of time and the initial cost, because there are so many plants going into
the system, is a reasonable amount," she said.

"Beyond that point there's very little cost."
Ms Hawes believes the system also makes harvesting easier.
"The workers are out working in the shade rather than the hot sun," she said.

"And rather than bringing in harvesters just for a short period of time for seasonal produce, you can actually keep good workers
on the ground all the time because you've got such a diversity of crops."

More

A lot more

No Farming reason this wouldn't work in Thailand.

Changing a Farmers mindset ... that's another issue

**HuangLao** · 14-07-2018, 03:42 AM

I know some here that have been practicing this process for years.....though, not commonly thought of.

**happynz** · 14-07-2018, 07:47 AM

I would hope they prune those eucalyptus trees. Those bastards are widow-makers. A fruit-picker could be standing there going about his business when *crack* a big old limb the size of a telephone pole crashes down on him.

**Maanaam** · 14-07-2018, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by HuangLao

I know some here that have been practicing this process for years.

Of course you do. And would it happen to be by mistake, happenstance, laziness, or planted by the rationale outlined in the story?

**OhOh** · 14-07-2018, 04:48 PM

Many around here plant annual/semi annuals, Pineapple, peppers, other Thai shrubs underneath/between Rubber, Durian etc. Works well until the canopies converge and block out the sunlight. Short returns whilst the trees are growing.

Been going on for generations.

Others plant the trees further apart and grow coffee in between year in year out. Coffee start harvesting after 3/4 years, Durian 5 - 7 years.

Then it's watch the buggers grow from a convenient hammock under a shade tree. An occasional few steps to the stream to cool off, have a pee and pick up a coldish beer. At coffee harvest time, hire a few local ladies to pick and off to the local processor. Durian harvest hire a local cutter, a catcher, 4 or 5 porters team, call a buyer. He or generally she, grades and weighs, calculates the total price and off they go. Higher prices if you can be bothered driving an overloaded pickup to Bangkok.

**OhOh** · 14-07-2018, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by David48atTD

However, Ms Hawes said starting out took some money and planning.

"The mapping and the planning takes a little bit of time and the initial cost, because there are so many plants going into
the system, is a reasonable amount," she said.

Capital intensive initially when many barely make it through each year.

Originally Posted by Maanaam

And would it happen to be by mistake, happenstance, laziness, or planted by the rationale outlined in the story

Not at all just a bank balance to allow the longer term return. Along with "managing" rather than plant and forget the crops.

**birding** · 14-07-2018, 07:41 PM

Indeed this has been happening here for many years I see it everywhere I go and it is only expensive if done on a large area at one time, if done incrementally and with crop rotation it gives a constant income stream.

One of the most popular is pineapples between young rubber trees, there are several years crops before the rubber trees get big enough to block sunlight and by then the trees have come into production.

**runker** · 31-07-2018, 06:22 PM

I read a good story on the avocado farmers in Mexico growing coffee plants under their trees and having good results.

**jamescollister** · 31-07-2018, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by birding

Indeed this has been happening here for many years I see it everywhere I go and it is only expensive if done on a large area at one time, if done incrementally and with crop rotation it gives a constant income stream.

One of the most popular is pineapples between young rubber trees, there are several years crops before the rubber trees get big enough to block sunlight and by then the trees have come into production.

was always under the impression that nothing grows under mature rubber trees, it's dark beneath the canopy.
Until I met an Australian coffee grower, who had 400 hectares of coffee in Lao, he had some problems with the government, sold up and retired this side of the border near me.

Long story short, Arabica coffee grows well under rubber at this elevation, was hoping to give it a try, but with all things, nothing is easy.
Money is the first problem, plants are around $1 US each, since the coffee whole sale market is in BKK you need to supply enough beans to cover transport costs, a pickup load is not viable, so between the cost of plants, planting and care, fertilizer etc, you need to go big, a lot of cash for years before a return.

Everything grows here, markets to sell are the problem, as I have already posted, repair grass grows wild in rubber around here, worth a lot, but wholesale market is in Chang Mai, just too far.

**runker** · 01-08-2018, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by jamescollister

repair grass grows wild in rubber

what is repair grass?

**OhOh** · 02-08-2018, 01:38 AM

Originally Posted by jamescollister

Arabica coffee grows well under rubber

Looking at the rubber plantations here it seems to be pretty black under the mature trees and very little grows.

Coffee bushes will grow for decades. The trick is to allow 4 trunks to grow. Year two will produce some beans years 3 and 4 full crops. After year 4 harvest cut one of the trunks, leaving 3 for the 5th year. A new replacement trunk will grow. After the 5th harvest cut the next initial trunk. After the 6th harvest cut another of the original trunks. Meanwhile the replacements are starting to produce beans.

Repeat every year always cutting off the oldest trunk.

There is a farmer here in the village who has gone big on coffee who says he doesn't irrigate or fertilise. He has invested in a couple of processing machines. A machine which strips the skin and pith off the berries and a berry polisher plus sizer. With those and some long drying stands he produces tons a year. He also has an industrial roaster as he sells the roasted coffee to coffee shops.

But most is dried green beans which he sells in Bangkok. He did try to sell abroad but the buyers wanted hundreds of tons a year. I believe he gets 80 to 100 baht a kg. and pays his pickers 30 baht a kg.

**HuangLao** · 02-08-2018, 05:03 AM

Originally Posted by OhOh

Looking at the rubber plantations here it seems to be pretty black under the mature trees and very little grows.

Coffee bushes will grow for decades. The trick is to allow 4 trunks to grow. Year two will produce some beans years 3 and 4 full crops. After year 4 harvest cut one of the trunks, leaving 3 for the 5th year. A new replacement trunk will grow. After the 5th harvest cut the next initial trunk. After the 6th harvest cut another of the original trunks. Meanwhile the replacements are starting to produce beans.

Repeat every year always cutting off the oldest trunk.

There is a farmer here in the village who has gone big on coffee who says he doesn't irrigate or fertilise. He has invested in a couple of processing machines. A machine which strips the skin and pith off the berries and a berry polisher plus sizer. With those and some long drying stands he produces tons a year. He also has an industrial roaster as he sells the roasted coffee to coffee shops.

But most is dried green beans which he sells in Bangkok. He did try to sell abroad but the buyers wanted hundreds of tons a year. I believe he gets 80 to 100 baht a kg. and pays his pickers 30 baht a kg.

Where are you located, Oh?

**OhOh** · 02-08-2018, 08:07 PM

Chanthaburi province on the Cambodian border, up in the mountains with the Khmer remnants

Lots of these, Russian I believe, around:

Syntropic Farming ... an alternative for Thailand?-ak74l-jpg

Syntropic Farming ... an alternative for Thailand?-450px-non_armed_mon50_anti-personnel_clustermine-jpg

Only kidding.

The weapon de jour is usually this:

Syntropic Farming ... an alternative for Thailand?-small-jungle-knife-jpg

OK for slowly cutting one's way through the jungle. Not so good when you're being chased by an angry elephant.

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