Abstract
Since 2016, the Thai government has promoted collaborative farming groups to enhance the agriculture of small-scale
holders. This study examined these collaborative farming groups, focusing on their contribution to local agriculture through
interviews with group leaders, questionnaire surveys of members, and analyses of datasets and statistics. The results revealed
that farmers contract many mechanical tasks, regardless of the size of their farmland. Further, associations contribute to local
agriculture by undertaking machinery work, offering lower prices than the general market, especially for combined
harvesters. Additionally, we found that small farmland plots—which decrease the advantages of group-owned large
machinery—and an insufficient ability to maintain and operate machinery reduce the capabilities of groups.
