An Analysis on the Policy of Promoting Rubber Trees Cultivation for Replacing Garlic and Longan Growing: A Case Study of Chiang Mai, Thailand

抄録

The acceptance of farmers’ participation in promoting rubber trees cultivation for replacing garlic and longan growing has been studied. Interview schedule, in-depth interview and focus group discussion techniques were used to obtain required data from eighty participants, sixty-two non-participants of rubber cultivating project and three representatives from the Office of Rubber Replanting Aid Fund. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. It was found that more than one-third (38%) of farmers decided to participate in the project and the rest (71.98%) did not want to participate because the cultivation area was under drought. In 2003, there were 1,127 farmers in Chiang Mai participating in the project with a total cultivation area of 6,770 acres. Thirty participants (37.50%) changed longan orchard to rubber cultivation, 218 acres in area. This was equivalent to 422 farmers and 3,074 acres of cultivation area comparing to the total number of participants and rubber cultivation area in Chiang Mai. During 2003-2004, Chiang Mai had a total longan cultivation area of 94,925 acres. However, this project could help reduce longan cultivation area by only 3.23%. Meanwhile, few participants changed garlic cultivation area to rubber cultivation area. It indicated that only longan orchard area could be reduced but garlic cultivation area could not. Besides, some participants changed other crop growing areas to rubber cultivation area. These would have effects on long-term food security of Thailand. Moreover, during 2011-2012, participants begin to earn income from rubber latex. This might motivate some non-participants to take part in the project due to high prices of rubber latex. However, they should place importance on the appropriateness and cares of rubber cultivation areas. As a whole, the policy was not successful as it should be.