Area Based Management Extension for Sustainable Rice Production: Lessons Learned from Sustainable Rice Farmers Groups in Det Udom District, Ubon Ratchathani Province

抄録

Lessons learned by farmers’ groups in Thailand who received area based management extension for sustainable rice production were investigated. Objectives were to 1) study area based management extension for sustainable rice farmers’ groups, 2) analyze the current situation regarding area based management extension of these groups, 3) identify key actions for group improvement, and 4) determine the lessons learned. Qualitative data were collected from 77 sustainable rice farmers belonging to two farmers’ groups in Det Udom district, Ubon Ratchathani Province during an organized forum. Additional data were collected and analyzed from key informants including group chairmen and extension officers using in-depth interviews. Results were as follows: 1) the farmers’ groups were founded as Community Rice Centers producing seed, and later joined the Area Based Management Extension Program initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to increase their knowledge capacity and market linkage. They also participated in the Sustainable Rice Production Pilot Testing Project organized through collaboration between the Thai Rice Department and Better Rice Initiative Asia Project to link with sustainable rice new value chains. 2) Farmers were assessed regarding their current practices against their compliance score of the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) standard and received scores averaging 74.5%. After knowledge transfer, their scores were audited by an external auditor and increased to an average of 84% classified by the ‘Working toward Sustainability’ level. 3) Actions for group improvement were identified as follows: (i) Farm record, (ii) Land preparation, (iii). Planting method, (iv) Seeding service management, (v) Fertilizer management (vi) Weed management, (vii) Combine harvester machine management, (viii) Selling, and (ix) Internal control system management. 4) Valuable lessons learned concerning sustainable rice area based extension included: (i) Good knowledge transfer of sustainable rice production through group actions, (ii) Limited access through machinery service of introduced technology, and (iii) Economy of scale in area based management extension planning between cultivated areas and market capacity.