Multifunctional farming as successful pathway for the next generation of Thai farmers.
Young farmers play a significant role in sustaining food security and the communities' and rural areas' viability. However, as with many countries, Thailand is facing a decline in the number of young farmers who, if not productive and satisfied with their farm business, are likely to exit...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2022-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0267351 |
| _version_ | 1811236150061301760 |
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| author | Para Jansuwan Kerstin K Zander |
| author_facet | Para Jansuwan Kerstin K Zander |
| author_sort | Para Jansuwan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Young farmers play a significant role in sustaining food security and the communities' and rural areas' viability. However, as with many countries, Thailand is facing a decline in the number of young farmers who, if not productive and satisfied with their farm business, are likely to exit farming to take advantage of their increased educational level and off-farm job opportunities. Data were collected by interviewing young farmers in the Prachin Buri province, Thailand, with the aim of assessing their reason for farming in the long-term and the type of farming. Farming decisions can be categorised into three types: full-time profit-oriented farming with a focus on rice production (~53%), full-time multifunctional farming in innovative mixed or organic production systems (~23%), and part-time farming where young farmers work off-farm and farm outside regular working hours (~24%). Using path analysis, we investigated which physical and psychological factors affect young farmers' decisions to pursue these three farming types. The results show that non-monetary farming's benefits are as important as monetary benefits. Education, farming and regular off-farm work experience, farm production, market and pest problems, and government support directly affect the farming types. These effects were also mediated by attitudes towards farming and net farming income. Young farmers choosing to pursue multifunctional farming have higher incomes, more often apply sophisticated technologies, and farm more sustainably than those choosing the other types of farming. This indicates that a shift from conventional rice production to more diversified production systems using innovative technologies is needed to sustain farming success and retain young people in the farming sector. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T12:03:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c8eb4be6852a400ca40fc7af4749d43e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T12:03:55Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-c8eb4be6852a400ca40fc7af4749d43e2022-12-22T03:33:47ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-01174e026735110.1371/journal.pone.0267351Multifunctional farming as successful pathway for the next generation of Thai farmers.Para JansuwanKerstin K ZanderYoung farmers play a significant role in sustaining food security and the communities' and rural areas' viability. However, as with many countries, Thailand is facing a decline in the number of young farmers who, if not productive and satisfied with their farm business, are likely to exit farming to take advantage of their increased educational level and off-farm job opportunities. Data were collected by interviewing young farmers in the Prachin Buri province, Thailand, with the aim of assessing their reason for farming in the long-term and the type of farming. Farming decisions can be categorised into three types: full-time profit-oriented farming with a focus on rice production (~53%), full-time multifunctional farming in innovative mixed or organic production systems (~23%), and part-time farming where young farmers work off-farm and farm outside regular working hours (~24%). Using path analysis, we investigated which physical and psychological factors affect young farmers' decisions to pursue these three farming types. The results show that non-monetary farming's benefits are as important as monetary benefits. Education, farming and regular off-farm work experience, farm production, market and pest problems, and government support directly affect the farming types. These effects were also mediated by attitudes towards farming and net farming income. Young farmers choosing to pursue multifunctional farming have higher incomes, more often apply sophisticated technologies, and farm more sustainably than those choosing the other types of farming. This indicates that a shift from conventional rice production to more diversified production systems using innovative technologies is needed to sustain farming success and retain young people in the farming sector.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0267351 |
| spellingShingle | Para Jansuwan Kerstin K Zander Multifunctional farming as successful pathway for the next generation of Thai farmers. PLoS ONE |
| title | Multifunctional farming as successful pathway for the next generation of Thai farmers. |
| title_full | Multifunctional farming as successful pathway for the next generation of Thai farmers. |
| title_fullStr | Multifunctional farming as successful pathway for the next generation of Thai farmers. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Multifunctional farming as successful pathway for the next generation of Thai farmers. |
| title_short | Multifunctional farming as successful pathway for the next generation of Thai farmers. |
| title_sort | multifunctional farming as successful pathway for the next generation of thai farmers |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0267351 |
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