SAF - Sustainable Agriculture Forum

SAF is dedicated to not only promoting sustainable agriculture development, but is committed to upholding and incorporating the highest of standards by implementing consistent quality monitoring with it's members.  SAF organizes as well participates in a variety of workshops, seminars, conferences and specialized training programs each targeting specific areas of concern and methodology, agricultural regions and conditions (i.e: high land v/s low land) and/or season (i.e: dry v/s wet), as well focus groups including poverty affected communities, women, ethnic minorities and youth.

PROGRAMS

TRAINING WORKSHOPS

SAF organizes workshops year round focusing on a variety of sustainable agriculture development and farming topics as well issues ranging from the social & economic to the environmental. SAF also provides training workshops & a variety of capacity building services to it’s partner organizations and interested parties .  For a full list of workshop & service fees, please visit HERE

Food security training
Biodiversity training
Aquaculture training
Organic fertilizers training
Pesticide bio- alternatives training
Chemical free rainy season vegetable cultivation and community marketing training
Irrigation systems & alternative farming tools training
Watershed management training
Integrated Agriculture Systems training
Rice and Fruit tree production training
Agricultural products processing & marketing training
Food processing training
Promotion and conservation of local seeds (rice, beans, starchy crops)
Mushroom production training
Fish and Frog production training
Native animals rearing training
Livestock Production training
Income generating activities training
Participatory community development planning training
Gender equality and partnership exchange workshop & training
Village Development Fund workshop
Organic agriculture exchange workshop
Poverty Reduction exchange workshop
Rubber Plantation exchange workshop
Organic Agriculture exchange workshop  
Natural resources management exchange workshop
Community development fund workshop
TOT on Sustainable Agriculture

PEER TRAINER TRAINING WORKSHOPS

 SAF is committed to improving the capacity of its members both in the short and long term.  SAF promotes self reliance and mutual cooperation by training farmers to become trainers themselves, and act as local information resources within their respective communities, empowering both the individual and the community, enabling them to become self sufficient and independent.  SAF then recruits these model farmers to facilitate workshops and give presentations in their field of knowledge to other farmers and new SAF members.

SAF Resource members/farmers/ peer trainers:

Mr. Phonthip, CUSO Volunteer
Mr. Bounmy, Organic farmer, Khammoune Province
Mr. Phouvong, officer from Phonesoung project, Vientiane Province
Mr. Somvang, organic farmer in Phonsoung project
Mr. Chomsouvan, organic farmer, Vientiane Province
Mr. Aek and Team, Inpeng Group, Sakonnakhone Province, Thailand
Mr. Chanthon and team, Tathong Irrigation School
Women Organization from Phonhong district
Ms. Lan and team, Thongkang village
Officer, Livestock department
Officer, Nongteng Station
Officer, Namxouang Station
Officer, Hadokkeo Station
Ms. Chai, officer from National Conservation and Research Station
Ms. Vansy, Mushroom production farmer, Nongboithong village
Mr. Nga, Mushroom and Frog production farmer, Phonthong village
Mr. Bounpan, Frog production farmer, Xaythany District
Mr. Kham Phalakhone, Planning Department, Agriculture and Forestry Ministry
Mr. Somchit Inthamith , Economic Department. Foreigner Ministry
Ms. Sompong and Team, FIAM Organization
Saving group Farmers, Xaythany district
Mr. Khamphone Mounlamay, NAFRI
Mr. Kamlap Phanmone, NGO from Thailand
Mr. Santhiphab Silivathanaphayboun, Oudonthany University
Mr. Khamphui, GTZ
Mr. Xieng, Rubber production farmer, Sangthong District
Mr Sombath, officer from Neuansoung project
Mr. Bounta, Officer from Neuansoung project
Mr. Sisaleo, Director of farmer product association
Mr. Khamsing, Director of organic agriculture association
Mr. Phouvong, officer for Profil project
Mr. Khamhieng, CUSO volunteer
Mr. Boumtem and Team, Organic and Mushroom production farmers

SAF FIELD VISIT 

 

SAF organizes field visits yearly to offer their farmers the rare opportunity to meet and exchange lessons and skills with other farmers in different regions and countries neighboring Lao PDR.

 

 

SAF organizes both short and extended field visits. 

 

The short field trips are usually organized in conjunction with a training workshop ensuring that farmers can witness and experience first hand the application & implementation of SAF methodologies.  These  are usually day trips.

 

The extended field is organized yearly and involves traveling to one of Lao PDR’s neighboring countries, spending about a week exchanging skills, knowledge and lessons, between Lao farmers and their ASEAN counterparts, expanding the SAF network and outreach, both nationally and internationally.

SURVEY, MONITORING & EVALUATION

SAF follows and implements the highest in quality assurance and operational standards.  SAF monitors each of its' projects from start to finish and beyond.  In addition to it's own on site in field monitoring activities, SAF employs independent consultants to survey projects & participants both during and upon completion of the project.  The evaluation reports are then reported and presented to SAF, it's committee board and members in an open forum.