Thesis Abstract of AGS Students

Arunee Weingsang (1996)

Since 1988, a number of rice farmers in the Northeast of Thailand have switched from con-ventional farming to alternative farming. The planted area of alternative rice production system (ARS) has increased continuously during 1988- 1992. This system is called "natural farming" which is aimed to reduce the utilization of chemical in rice production. The farmers changed the cultivation practice from transplanting to broadcasting in order to save labour.

This study investigates the alternative rice production system in various aspects especially the economic viability. The ARS was compared with conventional rice production system (CRS). Major components of both production systems were evaluated including input utilization, conversion process to ARS, factors influencing farmers decision making, costs and returns from both production practices and the relationship between the outputs in response to inputs used of the two different production methods.

Employing multistage sampling technique, 4 provinces of the Northeast Thailand were selected including Roi-et, Yasothon, Burirum and Ubon-ratchatanee. Survey data of the year 1992 was collected from 143 sampled households. Of the total sample size, 65 farms were identified as conventional rice production system (CRS), 43 as alternative rice production system (ARS) and 35 as mixed of both systems (MS).

Concerning farmers' decision making of system selection, the farmers reported that labour shortage (due to off-farm employment) was the most influencial factor, while capital problem was ranked second. The respondents also ranked risk, income, supporting agencies and physical constrains, accordingly.

The logit model was employed for the investigation of influential indicators in ARS adoption. The analysis of logit model proved that only 2 factors i.e, off-farm income and net asset were positively related to the adoption of ARS. The other two hypothesized : land and family labour ere found insignificantly correlated to the adoption.

In the area affected by drought and disease, the average yield of CRS (195 kg/rai) was slightly higher than that of the ARS (169 kg/rai). For the better production condition, the average yields of both systems were almost identical (355 kg/rai). The farmers of the ARS paid more cash for materials, hired labour, and machine services than those of the CRS. Therefore, gross margin of the CRS (626 and 1082 baht per rai) were higher for both poor and better production conditions as compared to 457 and 933 baht per rai of the ARS.

However, when family labour was paid according to market wage (60 baht per day) the ARS (i.e. 249 and 592 baht/rai) outperformed the CRS (142 and 310 baht/rai) in both conditions.

Th ARS saved labour from broadcasting but required more labour for harvesting than the CRS. The farmers also employed slightly more material inputs in the ARS. It can be concluded that except broadcasting, the ARS practice in the Northeast during 1988-1992 had no difference from the CRS. In the short-run, the ARS can be alternative method for the households that have off-farm work for the first priority.

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