Socio-economic and environmental barriers to increased agricultural production: New evidence from central Thailand

Abstract

Thailand’s agricultural production has played a major role in enhancing the sustainability of domestic food supplies and successful international exports. However, agricultural production and farm productivity remain relatively low, especially in rapidly ageing high out-migration areas and among small-scale farmers. In this study, we use new household survey data from Prachinburi Province to examine the probability of facing six specific barriers to agricultural production. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and a series of logistic regressions to identify the determinants. The results show that age of household head, off-farm income, farm size, and farm type were all associated with the likelihood of different productivity barriers. Gender of household heads was found to be associated with the probability of farm labour shortage, with female-headed households being at a disadvantage. We recommend that policies should be formulated to address these significant factors in order to overcome or circumvent the different barriers and enhance the livelihoods of the local population.

The Impact of the Use of Village Funds on Sustainable Agricultural Development

“…The previous research by [14] show that age of household head, off-farm income, farm size, and farm type were all associated with the likelihood of different productivity barriers. With regard to the impact of income on the probability of farmers facing agricultural production barriers, the results suggest that off-farm income may ensure cash flow and decrease income fluctuations.…”

Perceptions of an ageing agricultural workforce and farmers’ productivity strategies: Evidence from Prachinburi Province, Thailand

“…Since farmers in Thailand are not obliged to undertake formal retirement, they often continue working beyond their abilities. As a result, the increasing ageing agricultural workforce may have negative effects on overall agricultural production (Apipoonyanon et al, 2020;Rigg et al, 2020). It is believed that older farmers are less likely to embrace new technologies and that might hamper farm modernisation, and thus put at risk the long-term national food security (Phongsiri et al, 2017).…”

“…The study is grounded in the literature on farming systems that have undergone changes characterised by the fast ageing population of farm owners and farm labourers (Apipoonyanon et al, 2020;Faysse and Phiboon, 2019;Rigg et al, 2020). The shift towards older age structure has been notably marked in the agricultural workforce where demographic changes have been reinforced by the tendency of young people to seek non-agricultural employment.…”

“…Farm size is expected to influence the ageing workforce negatively. Existing research revealed that the ageing agricultural workforce negatively impacts the effective use of land resources, food security, and agricultural modernisation (Apipoonyanon et al, 2020;He, 2013), however it can have a positive effect on the perception of rice production enterprises (Petcho et al, 2019).…”

“…The ageing population and shifting occupational patterns have been integrated and linked to the development of economic, social and environmental aspects. Despite this and a number of existing policies and strategies, the agricultural labour force continues to decline (Apipoonyanon et al, 2020;Naipinit et al, 2014;Petcho et al, 2019).…”