Asia Pacific Natural Agriculture Network3)_2005.pdf · that Meishu Sama, the founder of Sekai Kyusei Kyo had stated that when something becomes useful to humankind, many would try

A civilized society is one where people live by courteous codes or philanthropicideals. When such individuals increase a pleasant world free of conflict willsurely arise. This becomes a paradise on earth.

(Mokichi Okada 1882 – 1955)(Adapted from Foundation of Paradise)

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2Volume 16 (3) September - December 2005

REVEREND KAZUO WAKUGAMI1920 -2005

Founder President, Sekai Kyusei Kyo,Thailand

Advisor and Mentor of APNAN

May this departed soul know salvationIn the realm of the spirit

And – find never ending joyIn Union with the Divine

May Revd Kazuo Wakugami be granted eternal peace for the goodness he has selflessly done for humankind


AT THE CLOSING OF OUR 16TH YEAR OFEXISTENCEThe year has passed.. With all its joys and sorrows.. Theyear is history – However many things happened in thelast four months.. some that brought happiness, while somecreated a void that cannot be filled. The event that createdthe most sorrow in all minds of people who have knownthis little network from its inception was the demise of ourbeloved mentor, Revd Kazuo Wakugami on the 14th

December 2005. Revd Wakugami, The founder Presidentof Sekai Kyusei Kyo of Thailand, a friend and closeassociate of our President, Professor Teruo Higa, and amentor and advisor of this network, was truly a humangiant. Although small in stature, he was a tower of strength,a visionary par excellence and a human with an open honestheart. He helped us all the way.. from the beginning inestablishing the network, through the traumatic times ofsudden changes in administration in 1993, the sudden changeof venue of the International Conference, and thereafter asan advisor. Although he groomed and left a successor tofollow suit in Revd Daiho Kasahara, who also is a tower ofstrength, we at APNAN will surely miss him. We at thenetwork, together with all our friends and contacts praythat Revd Wakugami is granted eternal peace. We humblydedicate this small newsletter to his memory.Moving on with the work of the network, the editor recallssome advice given to him by the late Revd Wakugami. Oneday, while having lunch in his office at Sara Buri, RevdWakugami foretold something that we see today. He saidthat Meishu Sama, the founder of Sekai Kyusei Kyo hadstated that when something becomes useful to humankind,many would try to copy this – whether it is a thought,deed or even a technology. Revd Wakugami warned thatNature Farming, especially with EM Technology is fastbecoming something indispensable to humankind – due tothe versatility. He was happy that our network is makingheadway in promoting this technology and warned thatthere will be copies of this technology in the world withina few years – and the people who try to do this would bethose who learnt at the feet of the experts!This is indeed true today – We see the world full of differentmicrobial products…none matching the quality andversatility of that produced by the inventor, our President,Professor Teruo Higa himself. The people who make theseproducts, which are not identified as EffectiveMicroorganisms with the distinct registered green label,but with similar sounding acronyms do not realize that thetechnology of EM that we support is updated regularly.Professor Higa, never rests on the fame and laurelsachieved.. he is constantly updating and refining the efficacyof the EM produced through the EM research Organizationand its affiliates such as the International Nature FarmingResearch Center, us at APNAN and in the Americas byEMRO USA. This is the real stuff.. thus readers, whilemany microbial products with glamorous advertisementsand support services may knock at your door.. please beassured that the original EM of Professor Higa is the best– and that it is the one that will help you. Do not bedeceived.As the editor pens this… before a flight in the night to adistant land, where EM is thriving, thoughts pass throughhis mind.. One that is constantly worrying us is whetherwe, who promote EM are doing our job well. Theorganizations that principally promote EM globally areEM Research Organization in Okinawa, its branches andus in Thailand. Our sponsors, the INFRC, promote NatureFarming and EM in Japan. Hence, we should be geared tohelp all those who need assistance by providing information,technology and guidance. However the question is – Arewe doing this well? Unfortunately – we must admit – weare not doing this to the best of our ability. APNAN makes

no excuses – we are really constrained by resources andstaff – but we try.. although we think, we are the best..there is room for improvement. However, we cannot saythe same about our bosses in Okinawa!! There are many atime when frustration has reached its zenith due to the lackof communication between us and EMRO and people whowant to use EM more also are disappointed that there islittle flow of information. This opens the door to the fakeEMs to come through! If we are strong and do our jobwell.. there is no scope for the fakes to prosper. The editorstrongly believes that the duty of EM Research Organizationand us is to promote EM – We at APNAN have the addedtask of promoting Nature Farming as well. This is whyEMRO was formed in 1994 – the editor recalls the wordsof our President in 1994, when he told him for the firsttime – I will establish an organization to promote EM –The First President of the Organization will be our dearMother, Mrs. Setsuko Higa. Please help us!! This is themandate that EMRO has and we appeal to our bosses –please help us to do our job.. we can surmount any problem.Thus, there is hope.. and when there is hope, we can workand succeed.At the closing of 2005…. It is our duty to thank all thosewho help and support us…and have pity on those whotry to mimic us and EM – we say Thank You to oursponsors and offer our services in sustainable management..so that they could also continue to support us. We thankINFRC and EMRO – and especially the Sekai KyuseiKyo of Thailand, and its President, Revd Daiho Kasaharafor facilitating the use of that Paradise on Earth – Sara Buri.The staff at Sara Buri – especially Mr. Kanit Muangnil andour dear Sakurai – thank you.. and no editorial is completewithout the mention of Rev.Amano, Chairman, Board ofDirectors of INFRC, our dear President and Mrs. Higa andour ex senior technical officers – who are always with usand have our welfare at heart.. as they do know what wedo..!The world changes – and we adapt.. we still do what wecan with the diminishing resources.. this is why the much-awaited newsletter is also delayed!!!! However, the workgoes on…we have moved back to our old home, to savecosts.. we are comfortable and happy as best as wecan…….However, there are many questions still notanswered – as the technology is becoming more global, theworkload also increases.. but we do our best… and moveahead.. We request all our readers and friends who areactive in Nature Farming and EM to contact us – Network.. so that we can disseminate the information, news gossipand be a real lively network.. Thus, as always we doconclude by stating… Use EM, try Nature Farming andtry our style of Effective Management!

We at APNAN do wish all our dear friends andcontacts a very happy, contented and dynamic2006!!!The EditorAPNAN, Bangkok, ThailandMarch, 2006

(The editor apologizes for the delay of the newsletter –this is due to saving of costs of travel…- Sustainingour resources!!!)

The Cover pageThe pictures are of our beloved mentor –Revd Kazuo Wakugami – who supportedthe activities of our network from ourinception in 1989 until his demise inDecember 2005.


THE IMPORTANT EVENTS……

AN IRREPLACEABLE LOSS.. WE BID GOODBYETO REVD KAZUO WAKUGAMIEvery being born on eartharrives alone and leavesalone. This is nature, andno living being can everescape this fate. The timeof departure from life onearth is often believed tobe a predestined factorand belief from the Indiansub continent is that thatwhen one live enters thisearth, its time ofdeparture is determined.This is the law of nature!!It is with extreme sadnessthat APNAN remembers the above words, as we acceptthe demise of our beloved mentor and friend, Revd. KazuoWakugami, who founded and headed the Sekai Kyusei Kyoof Thailand. Revd Wakugami, was a man of vision andgreat wisdom – he never faltered about work, and was areal gentleman with Ethics and Standards of the highestcaliber. Thus, he was an ideal mentor that this little networkcould ever have.. he always had time for us and also theresources.Revd Wakugami, was born in Okinawa in 1920 – he wasfrom the same prefecture as our dear President, Dr TeruoHiga. Thus, there was a natural bond between the two –which never faltered until the last day. The young RevdWakugami was also a man of courage – and thus acceptedthe teachings of Mokichi Okada, as he believed thatnurturing nature was the key to sustainability, just asMokichi Okada preached to his followers.Revd Wakugami rose within the ranks of the Sekai KyuseiKyo, and did not stay in Japan, although he could havedone so and risen to greater heights within the organization.Instead, he pioneered into Thailand, originally to ChiangMai in 1970 to develop the Fang farm through thephilosophies of Mokichi Okada. This was the first stepand he pioneered the establishment of the Foundation SekaiKyusei Kyo in Thailand.Due to the pioneering effects of the pleasant leader, thenumbers of members in Sekai Kyusei Kyo increaseddramatically and thus he moved to Bangkok to establishthe headquarters in 1970, by developing a building at SaphanKwai region of Bangkok. With time, he spread the messageof Mokichi Okada through word and deed.. he was a verystrict disciplinarian – and members followed suit as helived by example rather than preaching. The work of RevdWakugami did not stop at preaching the teachings ofMokichi Okada – but ventured to an abandoned land atSara Buri in 1988 to establish the Kyusei Nature FarmingCenter. His vision was to develop Sara Buri into a sacredground of the Sekai Kyusei Kyo, establish a training centerfor Nature Farming and also initiate a school. The lastproject he undertook was to develop a botanical garden

within the vicinity of the beautiful gardens of the Seichi.All these he achieved within a spate of 14 years, before herelinquished his position as the President of the SekaiKyusei Kyo of Thailand.We at APNAN remember him with reverence. We alsorecall the first visit to Thailand for Kyusei Nature Farming– the First International Kyusei Nature Farming Conference,held in Khon Kaen in 1989. The field trip of that conferencetook us oldies to Sara Buri, which was just being developedand had only some wooden houses. We also recall thedevelopments with time – and the establishment of thefoundation stone for the sacred ground and headquarters ofthe Thai Sekai Kyusei Kyo in 1992. The friendship andaffinity Revd Wakugami had with our President, ProfessorDr Higa helped us a long way.. and he was forever supportingour activities in cash, kind and facilities.The most crucial moment came when in 1997, the FifthInternational Kyusei Nature Farming Conference wascancelled by our counterparts in Beijing, just 13 days beforethe beginning. We at APNAN requested our dear mentor tosupport us held the conference in Bangkok on schedule.He spared nothing – to make this event a success. We whoexperienced his support and that of Sekai Kyusei Kyo ofThailand really loved our dear Wakugami sensei for thissupport. Thus, the conference was held on schedule.. allwho were to go to China came and a significant affinitywas developed at this conference between Revd Wakugamiand the President of IFOAM, Herve La Prairie, whoequated this great personality to some super human being.Revd Wakugami was honored by His Majesty the King ofThailand for the dedicated service performed for the ruralcommunities of Thailand.However, with time….age caught on.. he lost his belovedwife Tsuru sensei, who was ailing for sometime. RevdWakugami however did not give up.. he moved his home toSara Buri – the place he loved and established theheadquarters there. He often queried about the activities ofAPNAN and offered sound advice. He also sought theassistance of our network at times to get internationalrecognition for Kyusei Nature Farming and EM Technology.The last years of his life was spent at Sara Buri, surroundedby his only son Kazuhiko and family – especially hisgrand children. He had no regrets as he had groomed a veryable person to take over – in Revd Daiho Kasahara, whosucceeded Revd Wakugami as the President of the ThaiSekai Kyusei Kyo. Another able assistant whom hegroomed, Revd Okuma, who was in charge of Sara Buri andthe building of the Sacred ground preceded Revd Wakugami.The vision of this great leader lives on although he left thisworldly life on the 14th of December 2005. It was a sadevent for the whole of Sekai Kyusei Kyo, all over theworld. However, the legacy of Revd Kazuo Wakugamilives on.. in able hands of Revd Daiho Kasahara – the factthat the Sekai Kyusei Kyo of Thailand is a very strongorganization, and that Sara Buri nature farm is visited bymany from both Thailand and overseas, the training offeredat Sara Buri on Nature Farming and EM, the growingmembers accepting the teachings of Mokichi Okada andthe strengthening of the organizations founded by this great

Rev. Wakugamiin a contemplative mood


visionary leader bears ample testimony to this .We at APNAN and all our contacts that have visited SaraBuri and had the opportunity to meet this great man and allour friends bow our heads in reverence and respect to thisgreat personality. Although his soul has left his moral being,the name of Revd Kazuo Wakugami will never fade away –He will always be revered and remembered.APNAN offers the Sekai Kyusei Kyo of Thailand, led byour present mentor Revd Daiho Kasahara, and the familyof Kazuhiko Wakugami, our deepest sympathies on thedemise of Revd Wakugami.. We, in tribute to this greatpersonality promise that we will keep up our good workof spreading the word of Mokichi Okada on Nature Farmingand that of EM Technology, as Revd Kazuo Wakugamiwanted .We bow our heads in respect – and we pray that RevdKazuo Wakugami, who passed away peacefully on the14th December, 2005, be granted peace and eternal rest.May his name live forever in the minds of us and the futuregenerations of people who will experience the work thatthis great person did in establishing the Nature Farm andTraining Center at Sara Buri.Revd Kazuo Wakugami – May you rest in Peace – youwere a great leader – you will always be remembered byhumankind.

IFOAM SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE HEARS OFNATURE FARMING AND EM TECHNOLOGYThe beautiful city of Adelaide hosted the last IFOAMConference…. in the mild Australian Spring of September–with flowers welcoming the delegates from over 80 nations!This event, which is considered the largest gathering ofpeople interested in organic farming on this planet, wasorganized to have two sessions where scientificpresentations were offered. The detailed science waspresented at the ISOFAR conference, while the morepractical down to earth techniques and information werediscussed at the IFOAM sessions.As usual, the few people interested in the technologypromoted by us that of Nature Farming and EM, werethere in full force – to state our case that our techniqueswork all over the world. The sponsorship of theInternational Nature Farming Research Center paved theway for a delegation of seven members attended theIFOAM conference to present their interesting findings.The mere acceptance of these papers – 7 in all withy manyposters show that IFOAM also accepts EM and NatureFarming!!The presentations this time were spread through thesessions – although there was a session on Microbiology.This enabled many people to be exposed to our technology.The paper on no tillage practices on vegetable growth andsoil macro fauna, based on research at the Research farm ofINFRC, Japan was in a general scientific session. This wasvery interesting as the response has been great to thispaper.The microbial session however was based on researchpapers on EM and Nature Farming!! This alone showsthat we are advanced in research in organic and sustainable

farming to save this earth from destruction. This also showsthat we, who are interested in Nature Farming and EM arethe people using microbes to enhance productivity oforganic systems! The papers were from New Zealand, SriLanka and South Africa – giving it a blend of developed anddeveloping nations. The session held in a large conferenceroom attracted many – to fill the room to 75% capacity ofits seating of about 200 people.. Some were reallyinterested.. Some wanted to adopt EM and others throughcuriosity. The questions that followed the presentationswere interesting – they ranged from how EM works to thepossibility of selling other products that could be usedalong with EM!!! However, what was interesting was thediscussions that took place after the session.. Where manypeople from different nations asked the presenters – is thistrue - where can we get EM!! As usual the diligent presentersprovided all answers and contacts to enable all interestedto get the EM they want – information availability throughwebsites were also given and all were asked to contactAPNAN..for further information.The highlights of the research is presented elsewhere inthis Newsletter – However what is important is that we,interested in EM record what we do – both research andpractical application – to enable us present these finds atmany fora and thereby promote the spread of EM andNature Farming. We strongly believe that the world wantsthis technology and it is our duty – to state what we doopenly.Thus dear friends and readers.. please keep a record ofwhat you do.. This can easily be presented at organicfarming fora and the next IFOAM Conference, scheduledto be held in Italy in three years time!! This will be anopportunity for all the different nations using EM andNature Farming compliment the excellent work being donein Europe by our dear friends – especially the German-speaking world and Holland – who we are sure will be infull force at the IFOAM conference in this beautiful nationin 2008!!Please keep us informed of your activities – and we willkeep you posted on the developments leading to the nextIFOAM Scientific sessions.. This is networking and we dothis really well.We at APNAN, the little network promoting EM andNature Farming internationally from our little office inThailand, thank those who presented their work for their

active participation anddiligence – this motivatedus to do our work well..and promote thetechnology . We also saya sincere thank you toINFRC for their supportat all times to do our workwell.Dear friends.. please dokeep up the good work todevelop an excellentsession in Italy!!Natutre Farming presented

to IFOAM by Mr. Fujita


APNAN MOVES BACK HOME!!!!Our little network based in Thailand moved house again!!The network established itself in 1989, and was housed inSathorn Road in downtown Bangkok!! With developmentstaking place and frequent visitors coming in for differentactivities, we moved closer to the airport – to Thaninthornvillage, in very close proximity to Don Muang. However,with a shift in the administration – we moved to Bangkokagain – to one room in Kularb Apartment, sited in SaphanKwai, which is en route to downtown Bangkok from theDon Muang airport. This place has many many happymemories – theorganizing ofconferencesa n dw o r k s h o p ,w r i t i n gn e w s l e t t e r sa n dcoordinatingactivities andoccasionallyhaving a few inhouse familyfights!! The apartments were also the home – where we allstayed… cooked, ate worked in nightclothes at all oddhours burning midnight oil.. sometimes till 0300 hrs!! Itwas a real office home or home office.. and really showedthe concept of working from home!!! There were timesthat the editor never set foot on bare soil.. stuck in theeighth floor, where the staff had the office and residentialrooms!!!!!!!!!!!The best and most exciting experience that this office hadwas the organizing of the Fifth International Kyusei NatureF a r m i n gConference inB a n g k o kwithin 13days!!! Thecancellation ofthe conferencescheduled tobe held inBeijing and theidea of holdingthe conferenceon the due datein Thailand by a foolish person at this network – maderooms 801 and 802 a hive of activity. Our boss at that time– Mr. Takashi Kyan had nightmares.. and work went onwithout sleep in these rooms, which only had two oldcomputers to do the work!!Developments took place – and APNAN moved to thesalubrious environments of the Monririn building in 1999– along with EMRO office in Thailand. This was luxury,but some disagreed – This shift made as if APNAN becameanother office.. and the homeliness was lost. However muchwork was done from Monririn.. as we at APNAN workwell wherever we are.. even under trees, on farms and even

on airplanes 35000 feet above ground!!! The organizationsof International Conferences in South Africa and NewZealand took place from Monririn office – and we settledin quite well.. although it was indeed an expensive office.With the completion of the International Conferences andwith budgetary constraints facing the network as it ishappening all over the world.. the idea propped up – shallwe go back to our home in Kularb?? The boss at that timewas against this.. and we the obedient subordinatesaccepted this.. although the suggestion never left our minds.With our dear Imamura accepting the mantle of the boss,he quickly decided - we will move back to Kularb!! Wewere happy.. a room was found and on the 15th November– we made the move.. to Room 210.. of our home.We are new well settled in two rooms at Kularb.. and everymorning we diligently dress up in office attire and movedown from the heaven of the 8th floor to the 2nd floor andwork.. we do the same work.. efficiently, happily and inharmony – all at a lower cost.. which pleases our sponsors!!Thus, all our dear friends are readers .. please note our newaddressRoom 210, Kularb Apartments, 29 Soi suparat ,Phahonyothin Road, Samsennai, Phayathai, Bangkok10400 ThailandPhone (+ 66) 2 272 7061 – Fax (+66) 2 616 6022E Mail [email protected] invite all our dear friends to visit us.. with something toeat and drink – as we are working in this office 18 hours aday.. 7 days a week in real APNAN style!!!

EMRO JAPAN OPENS THE EM WELLNESS CENTERThe dream of our dear President, Professor Dr Teruo Higawas to have a real EM resort. Thus, EMRO acquired aderelict hotel in Okinawa a few years ago to establish a realEM resort – including a wellness center. Much water flowedunder the bridges all over the world…..and many headacheswere treated due to the gigantic task that lay ahead indeveloping this unit. However, the enthusiasm of ourPresident never failed and finally the hotel resort was shapedand was named COSTA VISTA – due to the beautifulsituation of the unit – with a view of the sea!The soft opening of the resort was held earlier in 2005, butthe real opening was held on the 19th November 2005, tocoincide with the EM Festa. The festa was also held in theCosta Vista Resort.The ceremony was presided by the Governor of theOkinawa Prefecture, who is promoting EM Technology asa real Uchinanchu Technology. The occasion was gracedby the Mayor of Gushikawa city, our Dear President andMrs. Higa, the President of EMRO, Mr. Taira, manydistinguished guests from overseas and from different partsof Japan. A solemn and impressive ceremony was held –wed are told and today the Costa Vista is open to thepublic.. to have a real EM Holiday!!We are sure that the experience in the EM Wellness Centerwill be good because the sales manager is our ex BossTakashi Kyan, who is well experienced in organizing realholidays!! Thus, we wish the Costa Vista Hotel muchsuccess in the future and request our President, Professor

APNAN Boss in his new office

Hardworking people in the new office


Higa, to give the hardworking stressed staff of APNAN afree weekend holiday to enable us experience the comfortsand EM life to promote the Hotel to the world!!!We wish the Costa Vista Hotel the very best and lookforward to seeing it in the very near future!

AUSTRIAN ORGANIC FARMING ACADEMICVISITS SARA BURIThe University of Applied Sciences and Natural Resources(BOKU) Vienna, in the land of Mozart and music has anInstitute of Organic Agriculture, as this European nation iskeen to develop organic farming. It is stated that some 40%of farming in Austria is organic – and the percentage issupposed to increase. One of our hidden staff memberstravel to BOKU to undertake an assignment and hence haslinks to the Institute of Organic Farming, led by ProfessorDr Ir. Bernhard Freyer. It was coincidence that Prof. Fryerwho wanted a quiet holiday in Thailand in December arrivedin Bangkok at the same time that our hidden member waspassing by – as usual attending to work of APNAN and ofcourse shopping and cooking!!Thus due to the many discussions that this duo had on EMand Nature Farming and because our dear Mrs. Hader hasa very dynamic program on EM in Austria, a visit wasorganized to take Prof Freyer to Sara Buri – it was a veryquick trip….half a day and some of the units were seen intwilight!! However, Prof Freyer was very happy andenthusiastic about EM and Nature Farming and we hearthat soon there will be discussions between our memberand Prof Freyer in developing a research project – We hopethat this will happen – and that it will be successful. Thescientific validity of Nature Farming is yet to be completedand cooperation of this nature would certainly deliver it..with recognized universities such as BOKU undertakingactivity.We look forward to further contacts with BOKU and hopethat these projects will materialize to popularize EM andNature Farming further in Europe. We ask our member andProf Freyer to keep us updated and we in turn offer oursupport at all times. We also will keep tabs on our memberso that he does not delve too much into Mozart Kugelsthat he likes when in Austria – but do real good work topromote EM in the European region!!

THE HAPPENINGS……….

EMRO HOLDS THE ANNUAL FESTA AT THE COSTAVISTA HOTELThe annual festa of our sponsors – EM ResearchOrganization is something awaited by all interested in EMinternationally. This is because it is a meeting place fordelegates internationally, and the exchange of informationand establishments of new contacts play a prominent role.Most people also come to the Festa to learn of newbreakthroughs with EM.. that the organization is presentingto the world.This year, the venue of the Festa changed from the usualOkinawa Convention Center to the real EM home – at theHotel Costa Vista. The event held in November coincidedwith the opening ceremony of the Hotel.The Festa had many sessions ranging from the Medicalconference through to Workshops and Environment issues.Sightseeing trips to EM sites were organized and manyparticipants were interested to see EM used inconstructions.The participants were pleased that they were given theopportunity to experience the EM comforts of the HotelCosta Vista and sample the wonderful EM food. Theywere also happy that an insight of the possibility ofdeveloping such units on a smaller basis in their respectivecountries. However, the overseas participants stated.. thatthe information gained would have been more valuable inEnglish.. we have made a comment on this in another itemwithin this newsletter!!We thank all who were responsible for organizing the Festaat the real EM place.. the Costa Vista Hotel.. this is aspecial place.. and we also request the participants topromote the Hotel in their respective places.. whether it beJapan or overseas. It will be a real experience. Thus we alsorequest the bosses of EMRO in Okinawa to give us poorstaff at this network who work 18 hours a day 7 days aweek a chance to enjoy the luxury of the technology thatwe promote and also eat the real EM food in an EMenvironment!!! We look forward to a better Festa in 2006at the Hotel Costa Vista!

The Costa Vista Hotel

The Festa is inaugurated


EM USERS REQUEST MORE INFORMATIONThe Festa in Okinawa was a great success. However, therewas some criticisms that the information generated inOkinawa was not getting out internationally!! This was bythe overseas guests of the Festa and also others workingwith EM internationally, who gave us a feedback.The information on EM is of great interest and people allover the world are awaiting with abated breath to use this– hence it is upto EMRO and all those who use EM toprovide this information to the public internationally andthus achieve the vision of the inventor of EM, our dearPresident Professor Teruo Higa. Thus, we at APNANimplore EMRO and all users of EM to do this.. offer andmake use of us.. send us the Japanese or English texts andwe will put out the information through this newsletterand other little brochures to all interested. We at APNANhave a wide audience in over 55 nations and we can do thispublicity. There is growing criticism that our readers andusers of EM are not given new developments – and we canhelp to overcome this setback. Thus we request EMROand all users of EM two things… send us information thatis generated and EMRO…. give us a member of staff.. wewill do the rest at no extra cost!! The festa and otheroccasions held in Japan and other nations presents theinformation.. in Japanese or English and people, all overthe world are clamoring for this.There are many EMs in this world today.. some are beingaggressively marketed by these organizations even by sellingthe name of Professor Dr Higa, without him knowing thathis name is being used!! Unknowing people thus may usethese EMs, which are not certified by organizations affiliatedto EMRO, INFRC or APNAN, which have the real EMEM•1®.. The technology that our dear Professor Higadeveloped in the very early 1980’s is constantly changingand the EM today is not the EM made in 1980’s or even2004!!! The efficacy of EM is enhanced constantly andnew products are developed by EMRO. Hence, interestedpeople want the real information and we urge EMRO,other users and even INFRC in Japan, who are oursponsors, to provide us with the information – we willgive it out in English to the world. This is networking andthis is what we do best. APNAN will always strive to helpthe world become a better place for humankind.

EUROPEAN EM USERS ATTEND WORKSHOP INSARA BURI…Europe gets into winter by November and the enthusiasticEM users take time off to escape the cold.. by taking ashort EM holiday in Thailand!! This happens every yearand some of them head off to Okinawa for the Festa. Thisyear too the group came – with 10 Germans, one Swiss andone Austrian. They were at Sara Buri from 10 – 13November.. and had the usual workshop that .we offerthese visitors. They were welcomed by our ex colleagueMr. Masanobu Sakurai, the training program was offeredand lectures, practicals, demonstrations etc were allincluded.After two days at Sara Buri, they visited many sites usingEM and were all impressed. They were happy and vowed

to send more next year! Hence this is becoming an annualfeature – where people from Europe spend time with us..enjoying the gracious hospitality of the Nature farm atSara Buri, learning of EM, the activity they are involved intheir homeland. We also value this because it gives ourJapanese colleagues at APNAN to practice their English..although after these workshops, they tend to speak Englishwith a German-Swiss-Austrian accent!!Thank you friends for coming – and we hope that membersfrom these and other European nations will come for trainingin greater numbers.. but only once per year please!!!

MALAYSIAN DELEGATION VISITS SARA BURIThe EM program in Malaysia is progressing veryrapidly…………and the Farmers Association in Malaysiais very keen to promote EM in their homeland, due to theproven benefits being experienced by many earlier trainees!!The success achieved especially by poultry farmers inreducing mortality and diseases in Johor also caught theattention of the Farmers Association (FELDA) in Johorand hence they are keen to promote this technology foranimal rearing. The training imparted by our staff at SaraBuri to many members of different branches of FELDAconcentrated on using EM for animal husbandry. Therewere many arguments whether to use EM or not andrecommend it to other farmers as well. However, the endresult was.. that after seeing the success at Sara Buri…..andother sites.. was. Them saying WE WILL USE EM!! Thisis success .. and we thank all at Sara Buri for the diligentwork they do that we can show to others.The demand for EM is surely going to increase and the EMuse will be more popular. The writer remembers a time

when lots of funds were spent in trying to promote EM inMalaysia. EMRO even had staff – who were paid ... butwith no success at all. Now that we have taken over.. wehave shown the real story.. that we can promote EM atvirtually no cost to our sponsors and the people now cometo us to learn EM technology and use it. This is the successthat we can achieve and we do it well. We thank theenthusiastic Malaysians for the work they do and also forlearning and adopting EM. We will help as always and oursponsors please note – we do our work well.. and at low orno cost.. this is the original training given by our President,which is inculcated in the young staff.We look forward to greater use of EM in Malaysia in thenear future and we offer our support.

Malaysian Participants


JUN MATSUMOTO VISITS MALAYSIAThe demand for EM is increasing in Malaysia that ourstaff has to travel quite often to this neighboring nation..andhence the young staff member Jun Matsumoto traveled toMalaysia with his senior officer Keefe Uehara, who wasleaving EMRO Thailand to further his education. This tripin mid November was programmed to cover Johor, Sabahand Kuala Lumpur – where Jun made EM and also metwith our counterparts of Malaysia.He was very enthusiastic about the dynamic activity beingundertaken in different parts of Malaysia and asked thequestion – why was this not done earlier!! The answer tothat.. cannot be given without embarrassment.. howeverthe program is going well. Hence his trip was successfuland his only complaint was that he flies the cheapest budgetairline, which does not serve any food or water .. and hencehe takes a meal with him to the plane!!We do anticipate the day when all states of Malaysia willuse EM.

CAMBODIAN USERS DEMAND MORE EM!!The relationship that our little network has with the NearyKhmer Association in Cambodia is strengthening day byday!! This is because of the activities being undertaken,the training workshops being held in Cambodia by theAssociation, and thus our staff travel often to make EMfor them. This time it was Koki Nagamine who did thehonors in September. He made EM in Phnom Penh, andconducted a workshop for about 250 people, all users andpotential users of EM. The Neary Khmer Association,which does this volunteer work, organized this gatheringfrom all over the country – and it was a very successfulevent – so much so that the participants, all poor ruralfarmers themselves donated funds to continue this activity!!This was a very special occasion and the association wasmoved, as the users of their activity, the poor, have nowcome to help others. This clearly shows the appreciationof this activity, which has boomed due to the introductionof EM.However all was not smooth on this trip.. as an organizationmaking fake EM.. called Extract Microorganisms (EX-M)had submitted an application for registering the name EMin Cambodia, through the Ministry of Commerce. It wassheer luck that the news reached Koki san. The energeticPresident of Neary Khmer Association accompanied Kokito the Ministry. The discussions that took place werefruitful and the Ministry rejected the application made bythe fakes !!! However or return to Bangkok, Koki san hadto submit further evidence to the ministry via the NearyKhmer Association, and this has been done. We are indeedhappy!

FAKE EMS ENTER THE MARKET IN A MAJORWAY!!!A serious problem faced by the real EM providers all overthe world.. irrespective of it being developed or developing– North or South, East or West is the emerging fake productswith the name EM or similar sounding acronyms!! Thedevelopments always are the same……People learn of the

success of EM at the feet of the inventor himself, who hasan open heart.. then they try to get funds.. and in mostinstances are successful in deceiving the teacher himself…which is totally against the Japanese and even internationalethics of science and business. The next step is to beginoperations undercutting the real EM providers – when thisis unsuccessful.. they make their EM.. this is totally aliento the advancing technology of EM, where the methods ofmaking are updated all the time. These spurious EM isthen advertised as having the support, cooperation andblessings of Professor Higa, EMRO and this network!!Hence dear friends and readers please be aware.. and usethe real EM….The real EM and its products carry theEMRO label, which is registered in the respective countries– where we have our contacts and provide the real EM. Weget stories of these people who without the real microbesare selling what they call EM..and often after one or twoattempts by users come back to the real EM provided byus.. as they experience bad results!!!!Please pass this message around dear readers and pleaseask your friends when using EM to check the green labeland check with us. We will provide the locations where thereal EM is available.

INFRC WILL DEVELOP 4TH MOU WITH MYANMARAGRICULTURE SERVICE!!The first ever MOU developed by our sponsors INFRCand APNAN with a counterpart nation was with the Unionof Myanmar in 1992. This was initiated by Professor DrCho Cho Myint, who was our counterpart in this nation.The MOU was extended three times, and the INFRC,which supports this activity was very happy with thedevelopments that have taken place. Today most states ofMyanmar use EM extensively, and there are 5 factoriesproducing EM in this country. Thus our officers arerequested to travel frequently to Myanmar to make EMand visit the different factories to check quality.This time, it was Koki Nagamine who visited Myanmar inNovember to make EM, establish a new factory and conducthis maiden workshop at CARTC in Hlegu. The workshopattracted over 100 participants – and we are told that hedid an excellent job.. and all were happy. This shows thatnew ground is broken by our staff when they come here –as we offer a good training for the future leaders of EM inthe world. Thereafter he visited the Kalaw factory to makeEM with the beautiful staff there.The report submitted by Koki san states that the project isgoing well and that our counterparts at the MyanmarAgricultural Service are supporting this venture. We dothank all who support it – and wish to state that we toowill do our utmost to make Nature Farming and EM ahousehold name in Myanmar.

NZNFS REQUESTS EMThe New Zealand Nature Farming Society is active asever.. just like the newly married consultant to NZNFS,Mike Daly!!! Thus they have many programs on lineespecially in the South Island of this beautiful nation. Whenasked why they do not undertake activities by APNAN..


the reply was that they are waiting for a hidden officer ofAPNAN to retire to take up this assignment!!!!These developments have led to the requests for more EMto be made with the Kiwi Microbes. Hence it was KokiNagamine who did the honors in November – his first visitto the Kiwi land. He spent 6 days in Christchurch and itslovely environment where he made EM and visited manysites to observe and provide advice on EM. He stated thatthe progress made is exciting and good – and anticipatesgreater demand for EM. This is because they use EMespecially for waste management. The special case was afacility that made bokashi with garden wastes – andcustomers came regularly buy this bokashi.We at APNAN are very happy with developments takingplace.. The EM use is increasing-the farm that uses EMhas been chosen to be the best organic farm in NZ, and iscertified, NZNFS is prospering, publications are beingwritten, the consultant and our dear friend Mike Daly gotmarried.. and now a workshop is being arranged in April2006, where APNAN is scheduled to make a presentationas well. These are all developments and Koki san tells usthat he would like to go back to enjoy the hospitality ofMike Daly and Marianne again…..!Congratulations NZNFS on your success and please keepus posted of the forthcoming activities and success stories..we will tell the world about them so that you all get thecredit for the hard work put in.

A GREAT FESTA IS BEING PLANNED IN GERMANYThe German counterparts in Europe are very active inpromoting EM and also expanding activities in thecontinent! Thus after the success in Amsterdam, it was theturn of EMIKO and E.M e.V. to develop the next festa andactivity in Europe.The work got underway two years ago.. soon afterAmsterdam.. and meetings with our staff took place inZurich.. the city of chocolates and watches to discussmodalities. The industries Germans did not want anotherrun of the mill conference - they wanted something specialin a special place. The search got underway and they cameup with a novel idea.. to have the EM fair or what theyterm the festa near an old monastery used by Nuns onFrauinsel (Island of the lady).. on the Cheimsee (Lake) inBavaria from 9 – 11 September, when the autumn isbeginning to show its colors in this beautiful part ofGermany.The whole meeting will be filled with excitement.. there areplans to hold an EM fair…….with all EM products beingsold to the public. The seminar will have special invitedguests speaking on predetermined projects worldwide andalso in the German-speaking world.. As usual the mostinteresting would be the keynote speech by Professor Higahimself, who will be there with Mrs. Higa to grace theoccasion. Exciting field trips have been planned to specificsites.. all to highlight the success with EM in differentspheres of activity.The organizers have not restricted the event to the German-speaking world only.. they would like all to attend andthus have developed a special 4-day package to overseas

guests – from airport to airport – with accommodation, allmeans and transport for only 430 Euros per head!! This isindeed a very good offer, knowing what is going to beavailable for this money. A Guest who want to join andpay this sum of Euro 430 will only have to arrive at Munichairport on the 8th.. they will be picked up and transportedto Frauinsel… fed and accommodated on the 9th , 10th and11th, including the field trip on the 11th and taken back fortheir flight on the 12th to Munich.. What a deal…!! Hencedear readers.. please try to make it.. !! Further informationcan be obtained fromEM e.V. Gesellschaft zur Förderungregenerativer Mikroorganismen (NPO)Geschäftsstelle Am Dobben 43 aD-28203 Brementel. ++49-(0)421-330 8785fax. ++49-(0)421-330 8795www.EMeV.infoPlease contact them for details!! We hope to see you there!!!

APNAN VISITS THE HIMALAYASThe EM program in the Himalayas began with our contactwith Mr. Yadav of CWDS, one of the most prominentNGO’s of Nepal. The progress has been slow and steadyover the years and today EM is being actively promoted inthe Himalayan Kingdom. Thus it was the duty of our bossImamura san to visit Nepal in September – this was hissecond trip to this nation. Although people warned him,little Imamura san is brave and undertook the trip. He wasmet on arrival by Mr. Yadav and they visited the EMtraining center and nature farm in Kakani, a few kilometersaway from Katmandu.Imamura san was very impressed – The officer who was incharge of Nepal was our dear Kanda san.. who undertookall trainings and activities, while watching his favorite Hindimovies! The staff of CWDS now undertake trainingprograms and they grow vegetable using EM. The livestock,especially goats and chicken are reared with EM.. all thrivingand showing no signs of disease or malnutrition. This wasvery pleasing to observe..this unit on the mountain slopesis doing well. Imamura san also visited the private farm ofthe Director of the Nepal Agricultural Research Council.This enterprising Director had begun using EM two yearsago for vegetable production and extended it to aquaculture.EM is used in the fishpond and the wastewater used for

Frau insel - The festa location


irrigation – thus recycling EM and the water. This will befurther developed to a closed integrated nature farm.The visit also included a trip to Dulikhel city, where aNGO - Help and Care is looking after 45 orphans in theregion. The orphans are taught EM technology and NatureFarming as routine activity as one member of the staffattended the EM and Nature Farming workshop held byAPNAN in Thailand in 2005. They also organizeworkshops on EM in the region and the one held whenImamura san visited them attracted 30 members. Ima chan,our dear boss delivered a lecture and explained the use ofEM in Nature Farming and environmental management.We are grateful to Mr. Yadav and his team at CWDS forpromoting EM and Nature Farming in the HimalayanKingdom with much success. We as usual offer our help inall possible ways and look forward to future success storiesfrom the Kingdom in the future. Mr. Yadav.. please send ussome reports for publicity in the future issues of thisnewsletter

JAPANESE VISITORS INUNDATE IMAMURASAN..!!The month of September was indeed busy for our dear Imachan!!! He had to host a series of Japanese guests!!!!!! Onthe 17th September, a group of members from theOowadatsumi Fishermen’s Association visited Sara Buriand Imamura san accompanied them to explain theactivities. From the 21st to the 24th, members of a Japanesecompany interested in exporting organic fruit juice fromThailand to Japan visited the Ang Thong and Sa Kaeooprovinces in search of organic orchards. Again it was Imachan and Somlak san who guided them – to mango, dragonfruit, pineapple and papaya orchards – all organic farmsusing EM – and tested the quality. Among them two wereinterested in a visit to Sara Buri… Again it was Ima chan’sturn to do the honors. On the 27th of September it wasagain a Japanese guest a member from an NGO active inBangladesh. As we have had no contact for many monthsin Bangladesh, he was curious to find out what the situationis.. and asked us.. but we had to say.. sorry.. we are notaware! He complained that the EM in Bangladesh is ofvery low quality and is smelly!!!. It seems very old.. and italso is evident that again.. there is some unscrupulous peoplemaking fake EM!!The last visitor for Ima chan in September was a VIP!! He

was a Board member of INFRC, our sponsors. He is afrequent visitor to Thailand, and was shown Sara Buri.Thus Ima chan was so busy and due to the many field tripsto Sara Buri he stated that he can go blindfolded to theNature farm and show people around!! The lesson issimple.. we at APNAN never say no when a request ismade.. we help at all times and do what we have to.. to thebest of our ability. Thus all visitors in the future…..pleaseinform us in time to scheduled visits to Sara Buri.., we willbe happy to help.

SOUTH AFRICAN EM CONTACTS VISIT SARABURIThe South African EM project is progressing well, withProfessor Koos Prinsloo, being an active partner to developthe welfare of smallholder farmers in association with ZZ2.Hence, although dear Prof Koos always complains of hisadvancing age, which is natural.. EM keeps him going. Hepresented a very good paper on the concepts of using EMin Africa at the IFOAM conference in Australia,accompanied by two members of ZZ2. Thereafter, withouttaking a long flight back to Johannesburg, he stopped inBangkok to visit APNAN again – and show the Sara BuriNature Farm to his colleagues. Hence, a brief visit wasmade to our little network in October – and although ProfKoos rested in the hotel, his colleagues went to Sara Buri..and were deeply impressed! The thank you email clearlystated this and they hope to establish a similar unit inSouth Africa.We thank them for their interest and offer our support atall times.

CAMBODIANS TRAIN AT SARA BURIThe Cambodian EM project, handled by the Neary KhmerAssociation, trains their farmers and community membersat the headquarters in Phnom Penh. However, they tookthe advantage of the invitation offered by APNAN to visitSara Buri, be trained at this wonderful place – which weoften refer to as Paradise on Earth and experience theatmosphere, and be really trained. Thus, a group of 40Cambodians led by the active and dynamic President ofNeary Khmer Association, Ms Ing Sovanly came to SaraBuri in October. The training was imparted by KokiNagamine and Ms Lek, as the others were busy withprojects. The Cambodians were thrilled to be at Sara Buriand be trained.. and stated that they wish to be at thisParadise on Earth always!We thank them for their interest and hope that they willalso establish a nature farm in their home nation. We willoffer our support and offer our sincere thanks to the staffat Sara Buri for facilitating the use of their resources fortraining.

BHUTAN AWARDS THE TERUO HIGA TROPHYThe ceremonies associated with the World Food day in theRoyal Kingdom of Bhutan have an important message tothe schools. They hold a competition for the Teruo HigaPrize – where schools develop model farms with EM andNature Farming principles. The farms are judged and the

Nepal Workshop in session


trophy is awarded at the World Food Day celebrations,which fall on 16th October every year.This year too the competition was held and the first prizewent to the Yebilapsta Middle Secondary school inZhemgang. The second and third prizes were bagged bythe Drugyel Higher Secondary School and Ugyen DorjiHigher Secondary School respectively. However, this year,APNAN could not attend the ceremony to award the prize– and represent our President, Professor Dr Teruo Higa.This was due to logistic problems of flights. However, wedo thank the Ministries of Education and Agriculture forconducting this event every year to promote EM technologyand Nature Farming in the Royal Kingdom of Bhutan.

VIETNAM UNDERTAKES WASTE WATERTREATMENT WITH EMThe EM project in Vietnam, handled by the Vina NichiCenter and its energetic boss Dr Le Khac Quang, is makingmuch headway in promoting EM all over the country. Thismodel project, which is independent and progressive hasundertaken a major task of using EM to treat wastewaterfrom domestic noodle factories in the suburbs of Hanoi.The project uses the wastewater from the noodle factories,which is rich in starch to activate EM and then the EM isused for treating the canals.Our dear Boss Ima chan visited Hanoi in October andobserved this project. The sludge has decreased significantlyand the noodle makers are ecstatic – that they use theirwastewater in a beneficial manner while overcoming theproblems of pollution. This is indeed a model to be copiedby other nations of the region – where EM is used torecycle wastewater, which in turns cleans up theenvironment. Ima chan also tells us that the Vina Nichicenter is now treating the Van lake in central Hanoi – withEM, as the water of this attraction is highly polluted.Knowing the versatility of the Vina Nichi Center and itsboss, we are sure that this project will be successful – andhence will have a major impact on the expansion activitiesof EM in Vietnam – as the Van lake is a central attraction inthe capital city.We as usual wish the Vina Nichi Center the very best at alltimes and hope to report the success of these projects to

our readers in the very near future. Dr Le Khac – pleasekeep us updated!!

EM KYUSEI OF THAILAND HOLDS THE EMFORUM IN RANGSITThe annual EM Forum held in Thailand by EM Kyusei isa gathering place of many – and the occasion is alwaysgraced by our dear President, Professor Dr Higa, whodelivers the keynote speech to motivate the EM users ofthe Kingdom. This year too, this event was held in at a

University in Rangsit, in the outskirts of Bangkok inNovember, and over 700 people attended this event. Aspecial guest was the President of the Neary KhmerAssociation from Cambodia, who came to pay her respectsto our President and thank him for the EM technology thatthey are promoting. She also stated a special thank you forestablishing APNAN –a as we do the support and extensionactivities of EM for Professor Higa – our President.Professor Dr Higa also took time to attend the Agriculturefestival held at Sara Buri by the Sekai Kyusei Kyo. Thisannual event also gathers more than 1000 people and hewas very pleased at the developments taking place, usingEM to produce safe food using the principles of NatureFarming advocated by Mokichi Okada, the founder of SekaiKyusei Kyo.We are ever grateful to all working with EM in Thailand..for their dynamism.. it is an asset to our activities. Wealways offer our support to enhance these activities.

APNAN PRESIDENT IS ACTIVE IN PROMOTINGIN EM IN JAPANOur dear President, Prof Dr Higa never rests – he is travelingand working all the time.. giving seminars and explainingthe functions of EM that he has developed - the travelstakes him to different parts of Japan and overseas as well.In Japan, he has traveled over 20,000 Km in the periodunder review .. from Hokkaido to Okinawa – deliveringseminars and participating in many meetings – organizedby EM associates such as U-Net, Sogo Net or theInternational Nature Farming Research Center. We hear ofProf Dr Higa delivering a seminar in the Shikoku island,where our ex boss, Nobuyuki Taniki stays, works andpromotes EM and Nature Farming. Thus, we are evergrateful to Prof Dr Higa and hope that he does not tire

Untreatedwaste canal

EM cleansthe water canals

The EM forum


himself too much due to travel. We also hope that all aroundhim have the same dynamism – if this is there – EM will bea household name in every nation of this world.We thank you dear Higa Sensei and wish you long life andhappiness with good health, to promote EM technologythroughout the world.

VIETNAMESE DELEGATION MAKES ANNUALVISIT TO SARA BURIThe Vina Nichi Center of Hanoi organizes a trip every yearfor Vietnamese promoting EM to Thailand – to see thedevelopments undertaken with Nature Farming and EM.This year too.. the visit of five days took place in November– with 24 people led by Dr Le Khac Quang. They visitedSara Buri, and many sites in the region using EM to producegood quality food and develop a clean environment. Theyalso visited the National Housing Authority in Bangkok,which uses EM for sanitation.As usual, the visit was a roaring success and they werevery pleased that EM is being used increasingly to makethis earth a better place for humankind. Thus, they too willtake new ideas to Hanoi and their hometowns to expandEM based activities. We as always offer our support,cooperation – the progress in Vietnam is great, and we lookforward to the day when we can dedicate a whole issue ofthis newsletter to the happenings in Vietnam!!

SRI LANKAN EM ACTIVITY IS PROMOTEDThe Sri Lankan EM project, which was transferred fromthe main Sarvodaya Movement to its Enterprise divisionis consolidating its position. Thus, the team of dynamicpeople at the EM unit led by Dr Krish obtained an orderfrom a company that intends making organic fertilizersfrom lake dredging with EM. The pilot project undertakenwith the guidance of Dr Krish has proven to be a successand thus orders were forthcoming to fulfill the needs ofthis company. The Chairman, Mr. Ajith Boyagoda wasenthusiastic and stated that they would require largequantities of EM. We are very pleased at this development..that EM will be used to recycle wastes from lake dredgings.Imamura san, who visited Sri Lanka in December reportedthat this will be an on going feature and we at APNANhope that the EM will be used increasingly for manybeneficial purposes.Ima chan also visited the fledgling farm of the Sri LankaSekai Kyusei Kyo. The officer in charge, Mr. KelumWeerasinghe, who was trained at Sara Buri a few years agois keen to develop this unit, which has a very poor hardsoil. Ima chan provided advice on Nature Farming and EMand we hope that SKK Lanka will develop this to be atraining center in the future for their members. We as usualoffer our support and encouragement to these ventures inSri Lanka.

NZNFS PLANS A WORKSHOP IN APRIL 2006The New Zealand Nature Farming Society is planning apublicity event in April at the Biological Husbandry Unitof Lincoln University. This event anticipates gatheringpeople using EM and potential users – to discuss the

technologies of Nature Farming and EM. We have beeninvited and we are told that EMRO will support the travelof Jun Matsumoto for technical work and a hidden memberto do to Christchurch and present the international scenein relation to Nature Farming and EM.We are happy that Mike Daly is spearheading this event –a field evening followed by a typical barbecue on the EMfarm at Harts Creek, hosted by Tim and Rose Chamberlainis on the cards! We wish this event success and hope thatother nations will also arrange such events to popularizeEM and Nature Farming.We wish this event success and hope that it will be a day ofreal Kiwi fun.

PROFESSOR HIGA VISITS DPR KOREAThe Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, known to usas DPRK, is a very special nation for our dear President,Professor Higa. Thus, he undertakes two visits per year tocheck the progress and educates them on the newdevelopments. Thus again in December, when temperaturesare nearing Zero, he visited Pyongyang, accompanied byour ex boss Takashi Shimoji. He spent the usual three daysfrom 17 – 20th, visited the International EM Friendshiplab, where EM is made, different sites using EM andpresented the latest techniques to the scientists andmembers involved in EM activity.We do appreciate the developments and hope that ourcounterparts in DPRK will inform us of the developmentsthat are taking place to publish in our newsletter. We doknow that an international meeting is planned for 2007..and hope that it will be a very good one…We wish our counterparts the very best for their EMactivities to make this nation bountiful in food for theirpopulations.

EMTN AMERICA PUTS OUT ITS NEWSLETTER!!Our dear friends in USA….The EM Technology Networkbased in Tucson Arizona…. who does our job in that greatcountry and the region is following our good example!!This tiny network with two staff members (or one. we arenot sure!!) has got its act together and put out a newsletterjust like ours!!!! It is the brainchild of our dear JunkoGabriel, and wewonder the mere factthat one of our staffserves on the Boardof Directors madethem do this act???However, what weare pleased about isthat this newsletter,which contains littlesnippets of activitiesin and around theUSA and regionfulfills a great need..that of disseminatinginformation. We docongratulate EMTN The New Newsletter


for this.. and will support this activity always. However,a word of caution also to EMTN and Junko.. There aremany bad bugs in the USA who copy the technology thatwe promote.. that of Effective Microorganisms.. and watchout.. another newsletter or letters may also flood themarket!! Please do not worry EMRO of these.. we haveovercome such problems many a time.. we know that thetruth will surface.. although the time it takes can be painful!!We offer a bouquet to you Junko and the hidden half whois also member of the Board for this timely act. We wishyou a great future – and may all your readers anticipate theissuing of your newsletter just as they wait for ours!!

APNAN ATTENDS THE FUNERAL SERVICES OFREVD WAKUGAMIRevd Wakugami left this world on 14th December 2005. Asis the Buddhist custom in Thailand, religious services areheld in the temple for seven days where the mortal remainsare kept prior to the cremation. Thus on the 21st December,APNAN attended the evening service held at the Temple isSara Buri city. APNAN was represented by its entire staffand one member, who had a great affinity to this greatpersonality was also in Bangkok en route to his home. Hewas called upon to offer robes to the monks after prayersby the family members, thus indicating the closerelationship that existed between the network at RevdWakugami. The service of the Sekai Kyusei Kyo wasattended by our President, Dr Higa as well, as a later date.Again, we at APNAN pray that Revd Kazuo Wakugami isgranted eternal rest – he will certainly achieve this due tothe goodness that he perpetuated in the Kingdom ofThailand and all overt the world through Sekai KyuseiKyo and the Nature Farming Training center at Sara Buri.We bow our heads in reverence to this great visionarypersonality.

HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESENTATIONS AT IFOAM……

These snippets of research are extracted from thepapers published in the Proceedings. Please do contactus for the full papers. The Editor wishes to emphasizethat the snippets present the views and results of theauthors and not of APNAN.

A. The Harts Creek certified Organic farm of New Zealanduses approximately 1 ton of EM per annum for variousactivities. It serves as a model for others and uses EM in alltheir activities ranging from vegetables to livestock. Thuspremium prices are obtained and the profitable venturecarried by Tim and Rose are presented.

B. The Seresin Estate in Marlborough New Zealand usesEM in wine production and growing of olives. The EM isbest used in recycling the wastes after wine production.The impact of this EM fermented compost on plant growthhas been remarkable and the results present this case studyas a model for other organic vineyards all over the world.

C. The use of EM on ZZ2 farms in South Africa hasprovided relief to poor farmers. A four pillar approachusing EM has been used to develop the compacted lowfertile soils – with compost, mulching and compost tea...all with EM. The microbial inoculant is also sprayed ontothe vegetables, especially tomato and onions and fruitssuch as avocado and apples. The scientific approach usingEM has borne fruit and while fertilize use has been reducedsignificantly, the quality of harvest have been enhanced.The conversion of farms from conventional to NatureFarming has proven to be successful and the project isexpanding.

D. Research in Japan highlights that surface mulching ofsoils with EM Bokashi reduced weeds significantly. Thiswas attributed to the development of organic acids duringthe process of decomposition of the mulch, and the presenceof EM enhanced the efficacy of this process. Thus, the useof EM bokashi is identified as a superior method of weedmanagement especially in submerged soils.

E. Weed management in tropical organic farms is a problemdue to the non-use of herbicides. Studies carried outillustrate that mulching with different types of tropicalorganic matter with EM proves to be the best option forweed control, when compared to treatments such as usingeither pure lactic acid bacteria or cattle manure as slurryadded to the mulch. The impact of this operation is greaterin the drier minor seasons and EM offers a good method ofeffective weed management in tropical organic farms.

F. EM with different organic materials increase yields ofcrops, especially in water stressed conditions. However,the use of EM alone causes yield reductions. This clearlyhighlights the value of organic matter in EM applications,and the benefits of using the microbial solution with organicmatter, especially those with a low C:N ratio to maintainyields in drier seasons. The benefits of using EM areattributed to the enhancement of soil quality and thephysiological processes in crop plants.

G. No till systems enhances soil fauna – when compared toconventional tillage systems over a period of three years!!!This is attributed to less soil disturbances, and the mostbeneficial impact was the enhancement in numbers ofcarnivorous fauna in non-tilled soils, which serve aspredators of harmful organisms in organic farming systems.

FAMILY NEWS………….

WELCOME TO OUR WORLD.. JUN MATSUMOTO..APNAN has been clamoring for staff for a long time.. wehave enough and more work for four members.. but afterour dear boss, Nobuyuki Taniki left.. with his bag andbaggage to his hometown to spread Nature Farming andEM in that prefecture, we were saddled with two full timemembers to manage all the activities.. due to the courtesyof INFRC and they could not sleep even for five hours a


day due to the workload…and thus –. After muchclamoring.. we now have a very energetic and well-trainedyoung staff member ..who has been educatedby the master himselfand our first bossMasaki Shintani.The young staffmember is Mr. JunMatsumoto – from theprefecture of Nagano,Japan. This youngboy.. only 27 years oldhas a Bachelors andMasters degree fromthe RyukyusUniversity, under the tutelage of Professor Dr Higa himself..He is well versed in EM technology and thereafter spenttime in the USA in Tucson, with Masaki Shintani – whotrained him in the latest developments of EM.He is now with us and has already traveled overseas tomake EM and give advice. He is really enjoying Bangkokdue to the challenges that face him and the pressure ofwork.. nothing else.. as he has no time!!.. The only freetime he has is spent with his favorite hobby he says istaking a nap!!!Jun san.. as we call him is enthusiastic.. after seeing theworkload that he has.. and is managing EMRO office inThailand very well.. he is being trained in maintainingaccounts, writing reports and doing everything………evencleaning the living room. The writer asked him for hisbiodata and he prominently displayed.. marital status asSINGLE!! Hence all interested in making contact with thusslim handsome tall Japanese lad… send him an email [email protected]!!!Jun san.. welcome to our midst.. we welcome you warmlyand hope that you will have a very successful LONG staywith us at APNAN!!

THANK YOU KEEFE SANKeefe Uehara, the handsome Philippine Japanese man cameto Thailand as the Liaison officer for EMRO .., he camefrom Okinawa after training and was responsible for manydevelopments – however, he wished to further hiseducation, and hence resigned from EMRO in midNovember.We at APNAN wish Keefe for all that he did to help thislittle network further its cause – and wish him a very brightfuture in his education and undertakings in life.

CONGRATULATIONS SAKKIOur dear Sakki .. who was with us and shifted to Sara Burias a scientific advisor to help Mr. Kanit Muangnil to managethe Training Center and other projects, epecially withinternational guests, was a strict bachelor when at APNAN.,and often enjoyed himself taking a lonely walk…. Much tothe annoyance of the dogs around Kularb Apartment!!However, times changed and in November, he tied the knotof matrimony to Ms Ku Tay, a beautiful Thai lady – who

is a teacher oftraditional music inSara Buri!! When weheard this originallythrough a little bird..we could not believeit..but it wasdone..and today Mr.and Mrs. Sakuraienjoy their happywedded life at SaraBuri, where they runa small home. We hearthat the residents heartraditional Thaimusic from this little bird nest.. in the late hours of eveningsand also see the shadow of tall Sakurai san learningtraditional Thai dancing to this wonderful music played byhis dear wife!!We congratulate the Sakurai couple and wish them longyears of happy wedded life.. which we hope will be filledcontentment and lots of little Sakkis!!!

OUR BEST WISHES..Ms Ing Sovanly, the President of Neary Khmer Associationis always busy organizing training programs for themembers and resource poor people of Cambodia and raisingfunds or the activities being undertaken. However, amidstall these, she also foundtime to find a husband!!Thus, the wedding washeld in December, andshe was kind enough toinvite us too! Mrs.Somlak Pongdit, whowas with us attendedthe wedding,representing us… andsaid it was held in thereal grand style ofCambodia.We offer the newcouple the very bestwishes for the futureand for greater activityas a couple to promoteEM and NatureFarming through theNeary Khmer Association.

CAN YOU IMAGINE???The German EM activists, led by the Mau brothers areorganizing a very interesting Festa in 2006 – on an islandon a Bavarian lake!! Thus, they spare no expenses inplanning this event!! A bird fleeing the winter’s cold fromEurope to the warmth of Thailand whispered that theGermans traveled to Zurich to discuss the festa inDecember!! The group was seen huddled in Hotel Poly,discussing – the venue was selected as one of our staff was

Our colleague Mr. Jun Matusmoto Sakurai san ties the knot!!

The Cambodian Couple


in Zurich at that time on another project and they wantedsome ideas from his head which has a unique hairstyle!!The bird also told that the Swiss counterparts participatedat this meeting, which was to finalize the program – andthat all was successful.. However the only thing sad wasthat our dear Pit Mau donated a parcel of Swiss chocolatesto an unknown guy, while selecting dinner at an Asianrestaurant prior to taking the train to the airport!!!However, as stated elsewhere in this newsletter – the festais being planned and one of our staff will be in Germany inMarch 2006 to finalize all arrangements. We do wish thisevent success and we poor staff would like an invitationtoo!!!

SHIMOJI SAN.. THE NEW OVERSEAS SECTIONCHIEF OF EMROOur ex ex boss Takashi Shimoji is a busy man these days..he has been promoted to be the Chief of the Overseassection of our sponsors EMRO of Okinawa. He is so busythat he has no time even to reply e-mails! However, we doknow that our dear ex ex boss Chimo is capable of handlingall the work put across the table – due to his training herein APNAN – the great little network! We hope that yourdear Shinobu san will accept that you have to work longhours.. and will manage the kids !!!! If you want anassistant, we hear thatyour ex assistant Tanikimay help out at times ofneed.. although he is alsovery busy promotingNature Farming in hishome prefecture!! DearChimo.. as we lovinglycall you..we wish you agreat future and offer ourunstinted support at alltimes to discharge yourduties diligently and withhigh quality!!!

WE OFFER OUR CONDOLENCES TO OUR DEARLIAISON OFFICERIt is with deep sadness that we report the demise of thebeloved mother of our Liaison Officer – Mr. HidehikoOkubo, Chief of the Overseas Department of INFRC.Okubo san, who was recently promoted to the rank ofKacho took great pride in that he, with his dear wife Megumisan looked after his mother by staying at home and attendingto all her needs in her old age. However, nature takes its tolland Mrs. Okubo (snr) passed away in December.We offer our deepest sympathies to Okubo san and Megumisan. May her soul be granted eternal happiness.

MYANMAR AGRICULTURE SERVICE WORRIESABOUT OUR EX BOSS.. NOBUYUKI TANIKI!!Our dear Taniki san left APNAN last year to assume dutiesto spread Nature Farming in his home prefecture. Howevermany were sad that he left.. especially the VIP officers ofthe countries that he took care of. Thus, the MyanmarAgriculture Service was sorry to see him go back, butaccepted the fact that this was a promotion to his career.However, they were also worried.. will Taniki san find a

wife? We at APNAN like the Myanmar Agriculture Servicehope that this will come true in 2006. And wish our dearNobuyuki Taniki happy hunting!!!

THE NEXT WORKSHOP……….APNAN wishes to announce the next workshop on NatureFarming and EM Technology! This workshop and trainingsession will be held at the end of July at Sara Buri. Thisadvancement is due to the demand for the training facilityby others. Hence all interested – Please apply as soon aspossible as the slots are really limited!!!Please contact APNAN as soon a possible to confirmparticipation!!Email – [email protected]

CONFERENCES/MEETINGS OF THE FUTURE2006

April 26 – 29BioVisionAlexandria 2006 – Alexandria, EgyptContact www.bibalex.org/biovisionalexandria

April 27EM Field day – Christchurch, New ZealandContact [email protected]

June 7 – 9Bangalore Bio 2006 – Bangalore, IndiaContact www.bangalorebio.in

JulyNature Farming and EM Technology Workshop at SaraBuriContact APNAN

September 9 - 11First International EM Festa and Conference in EuropeContact [email protected]

November 2006 International Conference on: Sustainable AgriculturalProductivity through Education and ExtensionTehran Islamic Republic of Iran

The Overseas Chief!!

Documents

Asia Pacific Natural Agriculture Network3)_2005.pdf · that Meishu Sama, the founder of Sekai Kyusei Kyo had stated that when something becomes useful to humankind, many would try