Author: Kanokporn Rattanasuteerakul
AIT Library Call Number: AIT Diss. no.RD-09-05
Year: 2009
Academic Program: Regional and Rural Development Planning (RRDP)
Type: Thesis (Ph.D.) – Asian Institute of Technology, 2009
Examination Committee: Gopal B. Thapa (Chairperson); Jayant Kumar Rountray, Ganesh P. Shivakoti (Examination Committee Members)
Abstract: The government of Thailand has implemented organic vegetable promotion programs since the late 1990s under the broader policy of sustainable agriculture development. Based on primary and secondary information, this study analyzed the adoption of particularly organic vegetable farming (OVF) in four districts of Mahasarakham province. Primary information was collected through a questio nnaire survey of 172 vegetable farmers, key informants interview, group discussion and observation. Both descriptive and analytical statistics were used to analyze factors explaining spatial variation in the extent of OVF, adoption and extent of OVF, and use of organic inputs. This study also assessed advantages and disadvantages of organic and inorganic inputs from farmers’ perspective, and analyzed financial return to labor and land from both organic and mixed vegetables under different scenarios. The findings of the study revealed little progress made in promotion of organic vegetables, despite steady efforts made by several government and non-government organizations. Slightly more than half of the vegetable farmers of ficially designated as organic vegetable farmers in the study area were genuine organic farmers, while others were mixed vegetable farmers who used both organic and inorganic inputs. There was variation in the extent of OVF from one district to another due primarily to variation in soil suitability, availability of irrigation water and degree of external support. At the micro-level, the adoption of OVF was significantly influenced by women’s involvement in OVF, motivational activities carried out by GOs and NGOs, inspiration from comm unity members, attendance of the training, satisfaction with the income from organic vegetables and pest hazard. Regarding the extent of area under OVF, the amount of organic fertilizer ava
Scholarship Donor(s): Royal Thai Government (RTG)
Note: A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctoral of Philosophy in Regional and Rural Development Planning
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