As many of you know, the next ECHO Agricultural Conference will be held at the Empress Hotel in Chiang Mai, Thailand from September 21-25, 2009.  Geared towards enabling persons working among Asia's poor to network and exchange hunger and poverty-alleviation solutions, this ECHO conference will offer:

• Nine morning plenary sessions offered by knowledgeable and experienced rural development professionals (see details below). 
• Dozens of practical afternoon and evening workshops led by regional agricultural development workers and experts.
• A day of post-conference tours offering delegates the opportunity to visit nearby sites where work related to sustainable agriculture and appropriate technology is demonstrated and applied (more details below). 
• Morning worship led by D.E. Adams, a musician and recording artist who also handles IT/Communications for EDGE Outreach in Louisville, Kentucky.
• An unmatchable chance to network with others involved in regional agricultural development work, whether experienced professionals or relative newcomers.
• The opportunity to make the work and services of your own organization better known through conference sponsorship and resource fair displays.

Morning Plenary Sessions
Morning plenary sessions will be offered by 10 experts who come from a variety of development and tropical agricultural backgrounds including:

• Norman Uphoff - A professor in the Department of Government and the former director of the Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture, and Development, Dr. Uphoff's current development interests include agro-ecology and the system of rice intensification (SRI).
• Danny Blank - As manager of the ECHO Global Farm in Ft. Myers, Florida, Danny directs all planting and planning at the renowned educational and training facility. He will bring a wealth of technical and practical knowledge on tropical agriculture to the meeting.
• Stan Doerr - Currently the President/CEO of ECHO, Stan previously worked with World Vision in Mauritania in addition to involvement in over 45 countries around the world related to community development and agriculture.  He has a Master of Science degree from the University of Texas.
• Manny Asprec - Involved in agricultural development work throughout Asia over the past 25 years, Manny directs the work of SEED which puts "simple and practical technology into the hands of the local people."  He is based in Manila.
• Jim Goering - After earning a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics/Economic Development, Dr. Goering has represented various institutions around the world including the US Peace Corps, the World Bank and World Vision.  He currently serves on the ECHO Board of Directors. 
• Khaing Dhu Wan - As the director of NEED, Khaing Dhu Wan educates representatives of Burmese civil society in natural farming and other holistic development strategies that are economically, environmentally and socially sustainable.
• Salinee Tavaranan - Salinee and the Border Green Energy Team (BGET) provide hands-on appropriate technology training and financial support to village innovators in ethnic minority areas along the Thai/Burma border. BGET activities include the promotion and maintenance of solar home systems, community micro-hydro, bio-gas and ram pumps.
• Jo and Peggy Jandai - Peggy and Jo are founders of the Pun Pun Farm just outside of Chiang Mai.  Described as an organic farm, seed-saving operation, and sustainable living and learning center, Pun Pun has gained a reputation for innovation related to alternative housing such as adobe (earthen) homes.
• Kurtis Daniels - Kurtis is in charge of training operations for Edge Outreach based in Louisville, Kentucky.  Through hands-on training efforts, Edge Outreach teaches "ordinary people, missionaries, mission teams, relief workers and students to test water, implement community health education programs, build mini water treatment plants, utilize electric pumps in the field, and repair hand pumps."

Post-Conference Tours
Conference participants will have the opportunity to choose one of several interesting post-conference tour options.  With the exception of two stated options, the cost of each tour is already incorporated into the overall conference fee.  Post-conference tour options include:

• Pun Pun Farm - Located in the Mae Taeng District, 45 minutes from Chiang Mai, the Pun Pun farm serves as a "living and learning center" where appropriate technologies, organic farming, and natural building techniques such as adobe and cob are taught and put to use. 
• Natural Rice Farms (Local Variations of SRI) - Two farms in the Mae Rim District of Chiang Mai that practice variations of SRI will be visited.  While both operations use only natural inputs, the nationally recognized farm of Khru Pratum establishes rice crops by direct seeding.  Loong Ard, however, uses ducks to "plow" flooded fields and plants young, single rice seedlings.  Other types of natural lowland farming (e.g., pond and fish culture, fruit trees, cattle and buffalo raising) may be observed at both farms,
• Green manure cover cropping (relay cropping), agroforestry and Royal Project demonstration - Hilltribe farmers in the Chiang Dao district have long practiced relay cropping of green manure cover crops and field crops in their permanent hill fields.  The tour will coincide with the initial growth of 3-4 types of gmccs where field corn has recently been harvested.  Agroforest plantings incorporating indigenous forest crops of value (e.g., rattan, tea, forest pepper, fishtail palm, wild vegetables) along with common tropical orchard crops will  be visited.  Additionally, participants will have the chance to see the Royal Project's demonstration of small-scale farming techniques (e.g., home gardens, pigs raised on natural bedding, catfish and bullfrog production).
• Introduction to vermiculture at Mae Jo University - A half-day of introduction to Thai-style earthworm production led by Dr. Arnat and staff at the locally renowned Mae Jo University vermiculture facility.    
• Mae Tha natural farming - A chance to observe community-based natural farming activities in Mae Tha. This very organized group of family farms produce a diverse selection of  hardy native/naturalized vegetables (both annual and perennial) which are consumed by the community and sold in nearby Chiang Mai.
• Chiang Mai Aquatic Development Farm - A tour of the Chiang Mai Aquatic Development Farm (40 minutes north of Chiang Mai), a tilapia hatchery operated under the Northern Thailand Foundation for Enablement.  Employing 40 people, the hatchery produces about 2 million Nile tilapia and 1 million red tilapia fry per month. Additionally, the foundation provides micro loans to farmers who produce fingerlings for the cage culture industry.
• UHDP Agroforestry and Small Farm Resource Center - A post-conference visit to the UHDP Center is an overnight tour option.  The UHDP Center, located near the Thai-Burma border three hours north of Chiang Mai, focuses on small-scale sustainable agriculture technologies being promoted among local resource-poor hilltribe communities. Activities include agroforestry and natural backyard farming (e.g., natural pig production, perennial and annual vegetables, catfish production in small ponds and tanks, composting) as well as appropriate technologies such as biogas and earthen houses.  The ECHO Asia Seed Bank is also located at the UHDP Center.  Meals and dormitory-type housing will be provided (associated food and lodging fees to be announced). 
• Natural Urban Farm - Ajarn Phongphan, a retired government official, will introduce participants to Korean natural farming techniques that have been widely adopted and adapted by Thai farmers.  Participants will get a close up look at productive backyard farming techniques being employed at Ajarn Phongphan's home located in the small city of Lamphun (45 minutes south of Chiang Mai).  Farm activities include the efficient, and almost odor-free, production of natural fertilizers, pigs, poultry, fish, fermented animal feeds and vegetables made possible by the use of fermented plant juice and other indigenous micro-organisms.  The mini-training/field trip requires a 500 baht fee.
• Heifer Thailand Livelihood Improvement Project for Highlanders, Sustainable Buffalo Project and Pakasit Organic Farm - Traveling to the mountainous Chiang Dao District (1.5 hours north of Chiang Mai), participants will get a firsthand look at how Heifer Thailand and the Rural Community Development Project (RCDP) are implementing the Livelihood Improvement Project for Highlanders.  Participants will meet families gaining access to livestock, seedlings, crop seeds, biogas units, kitchen gardens and other agricultural needs.  Another local initiative is the Sustainable Buffalo Production for Self-sufficiency Project that provides buffaloes, forage seeds and other materials. The nearby Suan Pakasit was established in 1997 under the direction of Queen Sirikit.  Located on 104 acres of land (260 rai), the aims of Suan Pakasit farm include preserving natural resources and encouraging Thai people to refrain from using agricultural chemicals.  Farm components include organic farming, a learning center and the production of Effective Microorganisms (EM).
• Huai Hong Khrai Royal Project Center - Established under royal initiative in 1982, the Huai Hong Khrai Royal Development Study Center carries out research related to appropriate development methods for northern Thailand, especially the conservation of watersheds, reforestation and agricultural development. Visitors will also encounter research and development activities in support of crop and livestock production, fish and frog farming as well as vetiver grass utilization which are promoted in neighboring communities.  The trip will also include a visit to a partnering farm.