CETDEM ORGANIC FARMING PROJECT

CETDEM ORGANIC FARMING PROJECT

CETDEM is a non-profit organisation that was founded in 1985 by a group of concerned Malaysians. Since then it has been promoting sustainable development by ensuring that development activities have the least adverse impacts on the environment through the use of appropriate technologies. As part of this approach, it pioneered organic farming in Malaysia when it set up its organic farm in 1986 and is currently promoting organic farming in different parts of the country.

Through seminars, studies and active representation to various government agencies, CETDEM has promoted the greater use of renewable energy, energy conservation, environmental audits, water quality, climate-friendly policies and action, and effective management. CETDEM is also active at the regional and international levels. The Malaysian Government acknowledged CETDEM’s environment work by giving the 1993 Langkawi Award to its then Executive Director, Ir. Gurmit Singh. In 2001, in recognition of Tan Siew Luang, the Organic Farming Project Coordinator’s contribution in the field of organic farming, she was given the 1^st SAIKA Award by the Japan Technological Institute Foundation nominated by the then International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM) Asia.

Since 1996, our extended promotional work on Organic Farming has been done through

· Internal newsletter – ‘Green Nest’ for our Farmers’ Group, Kitchen Gardening Group as well as Friends of the O/F (Organic Farming) Project that include organic food outlets, retailers and fertiliser/compost manufacturers. In 1998 CETDEM published a book based on our farm experiences entitled ‘Organic Farming Practices in Malaysia’ in English, Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin. Videos and VCDs in the three languages are already being used to promote organic farming.

· In 1999 CETDEM organised the 1^st Malaysian Exhibition on Organic/Natural Products. The 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th exhibitions followed in 2000, 2002, and 2005. In 2001, a carnival on Organic/Natural Products was organised to create public awareness of the importance of caring for the Environment and Health through Organic Food.

· Encourage public to undertake kitchen/community gardening – a way to recycle their kitchen/garden waste into compost and use them to grow vegetables/fruits/flowers.

· Conduct regular public talks on organic farming and demonstrations on composting.

· Organise National Seminars and Public Forums on Organic matters.

· Conduct Organic Farming / Kitchen Gardening Courses for potential farmers and interested individuals.

· Conduct/organise study tours to organic farms for children and adult groups.

· Set up a Caring Consumers Scheme for CETDEM Organic Farm Project members to obtain organic vegetables and processed products at affordable prices as well as to increase environmental awareness/consciousness.

· Set up the CETDEM Organic Farming Community Centre (OFCC) in January 2007. The OFCC will serve as a working model of a learning centre for ecological sustainable living for the local community. It aims to demonstrate that the community can adopt sustainable principles into their daily lives to illustrate minimum negative impact to the environment in urban housing.

CETDEM’s name cannot be used in any way on any advertisements, flyers and letterheads without written approval from the Executive Director. The Board of Directors have reiterated and stipulated conditions to be met before such approval.

For more information, please contact:

CETDEM

P.O. Box 382, 46740 Petaling Jaya

Tel: 03 – 7875 7767; Fax: 03 – 7875 4039

Email: of@cetdem.org.my Website: www.cetdem.org.my