Mung bean-rice systems: Farming systems research approach

Integrated Rainfed Farming Research and Development Project was jointly conducted by the Royal Thai Government and the United Nations Development Programme/Food and Agriculture Organisation (UNDP/FAO). The project mainly aimed at increasing crop production and income of small farmers in selected rainfed areas and at formulating farm-acceptable agricultural production technologies including alternative cropping systems for various agro-climatic conditions and integration of livestock programs. The farming systems research methodology was used in the selection of project sites, in understanding the existing farming systems' resources and constraints, in designing what commodities would be suited to farmers' requirements, in formulating and conducting research trials with farmer participation, and in extending research results to other rainfed areas for farmer adoption. The design of the cropping trials followed the rainfall pattern in the project sites. Several cropping patterns were tested in Phayao province and the promising pattern was direct-seeded rice and mungbean-rice. In Mae Jai district in Phayao province, mungbean-rice cropping started with 6 farmers tilling 6 rai. After 4 years (1986), the area planted to mungbean-rice increased to 375 rai, with more farmers participating. In 1985, the mungbean-rice cropping technology was introduced in Dok-Kam Tai district in 60 rai. In two years' time (1987), area planted to mungbean-rice increased very rapidly to 4,049 rai. The project was terminated in 1987 but the Office of Agricultural Extension at Dok-Kam Tai district continued promoting the mungbean-rice cropping technology. At present, area planted is about 10,000 rai in Dok-Kam Tai and other provinces are now trying out this technology with the same agroecological zones as the original project sites.