Cho - JADAM organic farming: the way to ultra-low-cost agriculture

JADAM ORGANIC FARMING:

The way to ultra-low-cost agriculture

Written by Youngsang Cho

Photos by Youngsang Cho, Hyunho Cha and Deog-kee Park

Translated by Rei Sungseo Yoon

Corrected by Rei Sungseo Yoon, Hyunho Cha and Sunhwa Ju

Advisors: Seung Suk Lee and Hoon Park

Reviewed by Attila Kamras, Pinnacle English Service

Edited and designed by Youngsang Cho and Sunhwa Ju

E-book Edited by Sungwoo Cho

Cover designed by Rei Sungseo Yoon and Youngsang Cho

Office assistant: Sung-eun Cho

Printed by Bojinjae

First Korean edition printed on January 31, 2012

First English edition printed on May 15, 2013

Second English edition printed on January 2016

Published by Youngsang Cho JADAM

Address: 311 Migun 2-B, 187 Techno 2-ro, Yuseonggu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea, 34025

Phone: +82-2-1899-5012

Fax: +82-704667-2955

Email:

Website: www.jadam.kr

Publisher registration: May 29, 2000

Registration number: No. 20-1-41

Copyright 2016 by JADAM

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of JADAM, except for in inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.

JADAMs ultimate objective is to bring farming back to farmers. Through JADAMs method, farming can become ultra-low-cost, completely organic, and farmers can once again become the masters of farming. Farmers will possess the knowledge, method and technology of farming. When organic farming becomes easy, effective and inexpensive, it can finally become a practical alternative.
Farmers, consumers and Mother Nature will all rejoice in this splendid new world we wish to open.

Foreword (for English readers)

Welcome to JADAM organic farming

What does JADAM mean? It is short for our Korean full name Jayonul Damun Saramdul. This name means people who are like nature. Yes, we are the nature-like people who believe in and follow the wisdom of nature. In natures wisdom lies the path to high yield, high quality and low cost. We have specialized in the search for the method that makes possible farming at ultra-low-cost. Traditional farming was based on common sense and simple knowledge: anybody could follow with ease; all necessary material were available from near; and what were readily available were valued. This is how ultra-low-cost in farming was made possible. Farmers had control and leadership over farming.

All over the world, agriculture is leaving the hands of farmers as fertilizer and pesticide companies take more control over it. Farmers now buy all farming necessities from the marketplace seeds, seedlings, fertilizers, pesticides, microbes, etc. which in the past were self-sufficient. Farmers now rely on the experts; experts tell the farmers how to use fertilizer and pesticide, what to do when. What farmers have lost has been passed on to the business the control over farming. This is so in conventional and organic alike. One might have dreamt of a harmony between farmers and business in this new order but the profits are not being fairly shared; rather it flows only in one direction.

For the past 20 years, JADAM has studied ultra-low-cost agriculture. JADAM believes that this knowledge can advance the independence of farmers. Farmers should not be mere consumers of products and technologies developed by the agricultural corporations, they need to reclaim what they have lost: knowledge; the will to knowledge; and control over their own fate.

The system of agriculture that JADAM has managed to build is so simple and easy that anybody could follow. The really exciting part is that the cost of farming would be ten to one hundred times cheaper than conventional farming. JADAMs methods include microorganisms, liquid fertilizers, mineral water, cover crop and much more but its two greatest inventions would probably be JADAM wetting agent (JWA for short) and JADAM sulfur (JS). JWA is an environment-friendly wetting agent (surfactant). You need wetting agent in order to have the specific substance fully wet (envelope, coat) the target. JS is a powerful germicide that can be made simply. Both inputs can be made by the farmers by following simple instructions; both use ingredients permitted under organic production. JADAM has chosen not to patent these knowledges but instead opened it to public so that all farmers of the world can benefit. Through easy DIY (do-it-yourself), growers will be able to save huge, huge, HUGE costs. JADAM method can be applied in all types of agriculture: conventional agriculture, hydroponics, commercial farms, large-scale plantations, even home or urban gardens.

JADAM has been at the forefront to reverse the tide of our times, where farming is being taken over by the input manufacturers and their agents. We want to bring farming back to the farmers. All farmers of all nations must bring back their farming. People might think this is a romantic dream of idealists. But the big secret is that this path is not more expensive, difficult or impossible but actually cheaper, easier and more effective than conventional agriculture. In fact, we have, over the decades, developed a method of farming that lowers the cost to an ULTRA-low-level while increasing yield, improving produce quality, soil quality and ecological harmony. Here, in our ultra-low-cost agriculture, farmers and consumers can help each other and co-exist. That is what we want to bring forth. JADAM system has been proven by thousands of farms across the country. If it didnt work, JADAM would have perished but instead JADAM has thrived for nearly thirty years and now is being invited from all over the world.

The JADAM system is constantly evolving. It is not only about techniques; it is a methodology, a principle, a philosophy, or more precisely a spirit. Anybody who agrees can join the movement. Anyone who joins this movement can share and contribute. The person should not seek to monopolize knowledge but rather to mutually share and open. Also, one should remember to resemble, respect and love nature rather than conquer, destroy and exploit it. There is so much more to learn from nature than any human teacher can teach.

My journey

I had four near-death experiences before finishing middle school: I nearly drowned; my whole body suddenly became paralyzed; I came down with scarlet fever; and I had a ruptured aorta. Later, when I joined the military, I was assigned to the Special Forces where the training gave me a vivid and compelling understanding of the thin line separating life and death. Now as I run JADAM, I drive 70,000 to 80,000 kilometers (43,000-50,000 miles) every year, a distance equivalent to two circles around the globe. I have seen many accidents and myself was involved in a serious rollover. I have lived with the smell of death. It is sad in a way but it gave me lessons. I acquired a habit of not holding on to what I have. I chose not to patent my knowledge but instead to share with others; so that especially those who are poor and excluded may benefit.

But this path of sharing was choosing to depart from wealth. I and my family lived through times of extreme hardship. All along, two heroes gave me strength: Jesus Christ and Karl Marx. I love these two great men. For long, I have delved into the Holy Bible; for years, I repeated reading Marxs biography. The two might seem much unrelated, but to me they converged in perfect harmony, for they were common in their immense love for humanity.

Then I met Gustavo Gutirrez and Leonardo Boff through books. Liberation theology inspired me. The book titled We Drink from Our Own Wells gave me a clear vision in my time of wandering. Boffs ecological theology was a turning point in my life; I chose to abandon university and start organic farming. How I do vividly remember that moment of choice 28 years ago. I was determined to save agriculture from the exploitation of capital and bring farming back to farmers. Then I met another teacher: Laozi (). I was too strong and stiff; Laozi taught me to relax. My burning aspiration gained the softness of water. Laozi taught me to make JADAM organic farming like water; so that ultra-low-cost method will seep into farmers. Water does not conflict yet it conquers. So I decided that JADAMs system should be SESE (simple, easy, scientific, effective). Were it not for these teachers, JADAM would not have been born. Farming, for JADAM, is not an inanimate entity, a collection of techniques; it is a living, feeling thing that grows on the soil of religions, philosophies and humanities.