Livestock Occupational Extension of Farmers for Problems Solving Burning in Agricultural Zone: The Case Study of Mae Na Chon Sub-District, Mae Chaem District, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

Mae Chaem District, Chiang Mai Province is an agricultural zone and crop residues were burnt the most, especially in livestock and corn field area which later annually affected economics and society of Chiang Mai Province. This study was to support and to replace livestock occupation instead of corn plantation by using Participatory Action Research (PAR) with farmers from Mae NaChon Sub-Districts who voluntarily participated in this research until the end of the process. The study found that farmers needed livestock support including beef cattle, indigenous chicken, and fish. There are four actions: (1) co-brainstorming (2) co-planning (3) co-processing and (4) co-evaluation, which brought about six main activities: cattle breed support, basic knowledge lecture of livestock, corn husk fermentation as animal food, prototype farm project, basic accounting for farming, and building livestock farmer network in the area as motivation for farmer’s decision on area reduction or stopping corn plantation.