Thai Rice Farmers Research Articles

Factors driving Thailand rice farmer decision-making in the choice of marketing channel

PurposeSince the end of the latest rice-pledging scheme, Thai rice farmers have had more freedom in selecting marketing channels. Understanding the determinants of farmers' decision-making associated with these channels is of particular interest to multiple stakeholders in the rice value chain. This study aims to examine how economic, relational and psychological factors concurrently underpin Thai rice farmers' decision-making and influence their marketing channel choice.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on the theory of reasoned action and utility maximization of farmers’ decision making, this study used structural equation modeling to examine data collected from a nationwide sample of Thai rice farmers (n = 637), focusing on their past and intentional use of the three major marketing channels for paddy rice.FindingsThe determinants identified include four direct independent variables: attitude, subjective norm (social referents), transaction conditions and economic goals, and two indirect independent variables: past behavior and trust. Multi-group analysis suggests that rice co-operative users were more empowered to consider economic goals and attitude toward the channel, whilst rice miller and local collector users were more likely to be influenced by their social referents and the transaction conditions offered by the channel.Practical implicationsThe findings highlight the need for policy to address trust and transparency issues with intermediaries and to empower farmers through the improvement of market access.Originality/valueThe study makes a unique and substantive contribution to the knowledge of farmers' decision-making about marketing channel choice in Thailand and theoretically contributes to the indirect role of past behavior in predicting prospective intention.

Becoming citizens: Policy feedback and the transformation of the Thai rice farmer

Abstract Over the past twenty years, Thailand's rice farmers have become one of the country's most important and active political constituencies, a sharp contrast from the previous decades wherein they were treated with neglect or even derision by the Thai political elite. These “political peasants” now actively advocate for and successfully receive extensive subsidies from both authoritarian and democratic governments. What has driven this change? In this essay, we draw on theories of the policy feedback loop wherein policies yield both material and cognitive benefits, which change the political behavior of populations. We argue that the Thaksin Shinawatra government's (2001–2006) paddy pledging policy altered the mindset of Thai rice farmers, creating a new form of social contract between the rural poor and the state. We demonstrate this by tracing the process through which farmers' political behavior changed, drawing on a variety of evidence, including electoral data, secondary sources, an original survey, focus groups, and interviews with Thai farmers. The paper provides additional understanding regarding the mechanisms through which Thai politics has changed since 2001. On a broader scale, these findings suggest the potential of public policy to create enduring political communities among rural populations.

Value Creation and Addition of Rice and Its Significance to Thai Culture.

For Thai people, rice is not only regarded as a staple food but a sacred plant with a spirit, a life and a soul of its own. Many exquisite cultural traditions and customs associated with rice and Thai people are usually performed nationwide from sowing to harvesting such as the Royal Ploughing Ceremony, Morale Blessing Ceremony to Phosop. During the 2007-2016 period, while the planted area (72,217,000 rai), harvested area (68,332,000 rai), production (32,874,000 ton) and yield (480 kg/rai) varied slightly, the price (10,232 Baht/ton) and value (337,849 million Baht) at farm gate steadily decreased. To raise the farmers' income, rice strategy must be changed to create higher value from exports of rice-based products by using innovation instead of exporting a high volume of commodity-grade traded at a low price. Various kinds of value-added healthy processed rice-based foods are accessible in the markets as well as food supplements, food ingredients, cosmetics and medicinal products. In Thailand, rice is mainly consumed as normal cooked rice or glutinous rice and processed into flour, noodle, alcoholic drink, snacks, baked foods, desserts and beverages. Recently, organic rice, pigmented rice and low glycemic index rice with higher price and nutritive value have been available as an alternative choice for health conscious consumers and people with non-communicable disease. Innovative and functional products from that premium rice have been widely encouraged. This will help to support Thai rice farmers and help in strengthening and leading to sustainable Thai economy.

Knee musculoskeletal impairments and associated pain factors among rice farmers.

Rice farming is done using manual methods and involves strenuous labour, which can lead to musculoskeletal disorders. To identify the factors associated with knee musculoskeletal impairments and related pain among rice farmers complaining of knee pain. The study employed a community-based, cross-sectional design. Full-time rice farmers (n= 201) were surveyed. A questionnaire was used to record demographics and details of farm work; followed by a physical examination of knee structures impairments. The prevalence of knee impairment was highest among farmers with joint dysfunction (79.6%), followed by those with dysfunctional hamstring muscles (52.74%), quadriceps muscles (44.28%), neural tissue (38.81%), and ligaments (1.99%). It was lowest among farmers with meniscus dysfunction (1.49%). Stooping with twisting was strongly associated with knee joint and quadricep muscle impairment. Stooping with twisting and carrying loads were associated with hamstring muscle impairment. Stooping while twisting and being overweight was associated with neural tissue impairment. Being overweight was significantly associated with ligament impairment. There were no factors significantly associated with meniscus dysfunction. Knee musculoskeletal impairments is common among Thai rice farmers. Joint dysfunction was common. The factors associated with knee musculoskeletal impairments included being overweight, stooping while twisting and carrying heavy weight.

Exploring optimal hedging strategy in Thai rice pledging scheme policy

From 2011-2014, the Thai government pledged to buy Thai paddy rice above the market price in order to subsidise Thai rice farmers and push the world rice price higher. However, the volatility of the rice price casts uncertainty over how much the Thai Government fiscal budget will be liable for. Following optimal hedging technique and mean-variance framework, this paper explores a hedging strategy for the Thai Government to protect against risk of price fluctuation. Based on in-sample and out-of-sample testing, result shows that the volatility of the returns decreases after optimally hedged portfolio are created. The results are robust against different estimation methods, namely, OLS, rolling OLS, and MGARCH model.

Enhancing Productivity and Resource Conservation by Eliminating Inefficiency of Thai Rice Farmers: A Zero Inefficiency Stochastic Frontier Approach

The study first identified fully efficient farmers and then estimated technical efficiency of inefficient farmers, identifying their determinants by applying a Zero Inefficiency Stochastic Frontier Model (ZISFM) on a sample of 300 rice farmers from central-northern Thailand. Next, the study developed scenarios of potential production increase and resource conservation if technical inefficiency was eliminated. Results revealed that 13% of the sampled farmers were fully efficient, thereby justifying the use of our approach. The estimated mean technical efficiency was 91%, implying that rice production can be increased by 9%, by reallocating resources. Land and labor were the major productivity drivers. Education significantly improved technical efficiency. Farmers who transplanted seedlings were relatively technically efficient as compared to those who practised manual and/or mechanical direct seeding methods. Elimination of technical inefficiency could increase output by 8.64% per ha, or generate 5.7–6.4 million tons of additional rice output for Thailand each year. Similarly, elimination of technical inefficiency would potentially conserve 19.44% person-days of labor, 11.95% land area, 11.46% material inputs and 8.67% mechanical power services for every ton of rice produced. This translates into conservation of 2.9–3.0 million person-days of labor, 3.7–4.5 thousand km2 of land, 10.0–14.5 billion baht of material input and 7.6–12.8 billion baht of mechanical power costs to produce current level of rice output in Thailand each year. Policy implications include investment into educating farmers, and improving technical knowledge of seeding technology, to boost rice production and conserve scarce resources in Thailand.

Race and Ethnicity in Food Systems Work

Race and Ethnicity in Food Systems Work

Unraveling the Differences Between Organic and Non-Organic Thai Rice Farmers' Environmental Views and Perceptions of Well-being

Food production, a critical aspect of human development, depends on the regulating and supporting services of the ecosystem. However, the expansion and intensification of agriculture to meet rising human consumption levels have played havoc with ecosystem provisioning services by way of climate change, biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and water pollution. Development experts argue that modern agricultural methods also have led to the exodus of farmers from rural to urban areas and the disintegration of rural social safety nets. Few studies have explored the impacts of a shift to modern agricultural methods on farmers' well-being from a holistic perspective. This research sheds light on organic and non-organic farmers' environmental views, well-being, and production methods in the impoverished Northeast Region of Thailand. Structured questionnaires were used to examine differences in farmers' perspectives on their own well-being. Analysis shows that a Buddhist environmental worldview was not exclusive to either organic or non-organic farmers. Organic rice farmers were no more food secure than those farmers who used synthetic agro-chemicals to raise productivity. Participants from both groups also suffered from similar levels of stress due to outstanding loans. While some organic farmers sustained high levels of food security and were able to lower debts by using organic fertilizer methods, they also were bound by the financial demands of their families. It is highly recommended that experts consider farmers' environmental views and perceptions of well-being before deciding on ways to attract them to organic agriculture.

Prevalence of low back pain and associated factors among farmers during the rice transplanting process.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of low back pain and associated factors in Thai rice farmers during the rice transplanting process. [Subjects and Methods] Three hundred and forty-four farmers, aged 20–59 years old, were asked to answer a questionnaire modified from the Standard Nordic Questionnaire (Thai version). The questionnaire sought demographic, back-related, and psychosocial data. [Results] The results showed that the prevalence of low back pain was 83.1%. Farmers younger than 45 years old who worked in the field fewer than six days were more likely to experience low back pain than those who worked for at least six days. Farmers with high stress levels were more likely to have low back pain. [Conclusion] In the rice transplanting process, the low back pain experienced by the farmers was associated with the weekly work duration and stress.

Prevalence and individual risk factors associated with clinical lumbar instability in rice farmers with low back pain.

IntroductionClinical lumbar instability (CLI) is one of the subgroups of chronic non-specific low back pain. Thai rice farmers often have poor sustained postures during a rice planting process and start their farming at an early age. However, individual associated factors of CLI are not known and have rarely been diagnosed in low back pain. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and individual associated factors of CLI in Thai rice farmers.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 323 Thai rice farmers in a rural area of Khon Kaen province, Thailand. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using the 13-item Delphi criteria questionnaire, after which an objective examination was performed using aberrant movement sign, painful catch sign, and prone instability test to obtain information. Individual factors such as sex, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, smoking, and number of years of farming experience, were recorded during the face-to-face interview.ResultsThe prevalence of CLI in Thai rice farmers calculated by the method described in this study was 13% (age 44±10 years). Number of years of farming experience was found to be significantly correlated with the prevalence of CLI (adjusted odds ratio =2.02, 95% confidence interval =1.03–3.98, P<0.05).ConclusionThis study provides prevalence of CLI in Thai rice farmers. Those with long-term farming experience of at least 30 years have a greater risk of CLI.

Knowledge Management at the Village Level: How Thai Rice Farmers Incorporate Technologies to Improve Production Systems

The shift from agricultural to industrial and from industrial to knowledge societies has affected the ways farmers run their small-scale field activitiesin Central Thailand. To remain competitive, rice farmers need to continuously incorporate innovations and upgrade their technologies to sustain operations. These innovations and technologies may be seen in practically all aspects of the rice production process &ndash; from seed selection to fertilization, from seed raising and growth to irrigation, from crop protection to harvesting, threshing and drying. The study basically aims to explore the plausibility of rice farming villages as &ldquo;learning organizations&rdquo; and within these villages, the viability of forming &ldquo;communities of practice.&rdquo; In so doing, it investigates how the rice farming village under study organizes, shares, moves and gains information on rice farming. The study was conducted in Baan Sap Som Boon, Nonglue Subdistrict, Muang District, Chainat Province. The study uses a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive design. It uses both primary and secondary data and an ethnographic study approach. Research method and techniques consist of review of materials, interview with key persons and farmers in the community, interview with government personnel and field observations. Data generation was conducted from October 2004 to July 2005 in Chainat Province, Thailand.