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Background Report

Dr. Tawisuk Santawisuk

Dean, Faculty of Agriculture Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand

Your Excellency Chairman, Lt. General Chawal Kanchanakool

The Governor , The President of Khon Kaen University

The President of Sekai Kyusei Kyo

Distinguished Participants Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the organizing committee, I wish to extend our cordial welcome and appreciation of your participation in this First International Conference on Kyusei Nature Farming. Also, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to the International Promotion Committee of Kyusei Nature Farming of Japan with the cooperation of Sekai Kyusei Kyo Thai Kyokai for their great contributions and efforts, without which, this important event would have never been made possible. Kyusei Nature Farming is a farming method which was initially advocated by Mokichi Okada of Japan, the founder of Sekai Kyusei Kyo in 1935. It is based on his belief that gThe world can be transformed into a paradise by eradicating disease, poverty and conflict.h

This philosophy of Mokichi Okada for saving the world is a treasure of mankind which should be shared by the whole world regardless of religions and ideologies. Motivated by this idea, we have decided to hold an International Conference on Kyusei Nature Farming, for the purpose of contributing to world peace and environmental conversation by providing a forum for discussions on the potential applications of the principles of Kyusei Nature Farming throughout this region and worldwide. The following requirements which are not seen in conventional farming methods, are vital components of Kyusei Nature Farming:

  1. It must produce superior food for the advancement of human health.
  2. It must be economically and spiritually beneficial to both farmers and consumers.
  3. It must be sustainable and be easily practiced by anybody.
  4. It must conform to nature and maintain the environment.
  5. It must produce sufficient food for the expanding world population.

Consequently, the method of Kyusei Nature Farming is considered to be an agricultural system offering the means to solve many problems arising from modern agricultural methods, and is now drawing great attention from all over the world. The method has achieved many good results in Thailand and Taiwan, as well as in Japan. Additionally, field tests have also been started in Brazil and the United States. Experimental results were presented at conferences of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) held in 1986 and 1989. Since then, we have received numerous requests from around the world for reference materials on the principles and practical applications of Kyusei Nature Farming in various countries.

To effectively comply with such requests and to further the understanding of Kyusei Nature Farming worldwide, the Faculty of Agriculture of Khon Kaen University, the University of the Ryukyus with Professor Higa, and the International Promotion Committee of Kyusei Nature Farming decided to organize an International Conference on Kyusei Nature Farming during October 17-21, 1989, at Khon Kaen. The conference consists of a series of country reports, discussion of research needs and priorities, and excursion trips to view the agriculture of Central and Northeastern Thailand. Thailand is honored to serve as a forum for the discussion and exchange of ideas between 65 visiting scientists from 14 countries and more than 150 Thai scientists. The proposed specific objectives are as follows:

  1. To evaluate the country reports on nature farming;
  2. To determine research needs and priorities on nature farming;
  3. To establish an international, nongovernmental and nonpolitical commission on the nature farming system; and
  4. To investigate the feasibility of a research network that can extend the knowledge and experience based on Kyusei Nature Farming.

Now the time has come for me to invite the Director of Policy and Planning of Green Esarn, Lt. General Chawal Kanchanakool, to deliver the speech and inaugurate the First International Conference on Kyusei Nature Farming.

Thank you.