198 Facilitator’s Handbook for Permaculture Workshops
Use locally relevant examples to show how this chain of farming chemicals affects the
participants and how farmers are a part of the chain when they use chemical products.Step 2- Conduct a group brainstorm with the participants.
- On the board create a table something like the following - leave the answers to
the questions blank so that the participants come up with their own ideas. - List the external inputs - these are products that are generally factory made and
bought for farming. - Allocate the estimated costs per external input for one crop harvest on one
average farm. - Then fill in the column with suggestions for local resources that farmers can
make or use instead. - Allocate estimated costs of the local resources for one harvest on one average
farm. - Finally total the values at the bottom of both of the cost columns and compare
the results.
The answers listed below are only supplied as guidelines for the facilitator should
the participants need help or prompting to develop ideas and discussions.External
inputsAverage cost
per harvestLocal resources that
can be used insteadEstimated cost
per harvestChemical
fertilizer Rp. 150,000 / are Compost No costChemical
pesticide Rp. 300,000 / are Local natural pesticide No costHybrid or
GMO seedsRp. 3,000 / kilo / are
(for hybrid rice 64) Local traditional seed variety No costChemical
herbicide Rp. 100,000 / are Mulch and cover crop No costMachine
Tractor Rp. 500,000 / areOrange rinds, bamboo
leaves, and lime No costTOTAL COST: Rp. 1,053.000 / are TOTAL COST: No cost