Vol.5 No.1 (2010)

COMPARING OPINIONS AND ATTITUDES OF ORGANIC AND NON-ORGANIC FARMERS TOWARDS ORGANIC RICE FARMING SYSTEM IN NORTH-EASTERN THAILAND

Chouichom, S.*, and Yamao, M.

Abstract:

Organic farming is becoming popular in Southeast Asia as part of sustainable agriculture systems. This study aims to compare the opinions and attitudes towards organic farming systems by organic rice farmers (OF) and non-organic rice farmers (NOF) in Surin province, north-eastern Thailand. The comparison was drawn from opinions of OF and NOF interviewees who are engaged in jasmine rice farming. The data presented were based on information collected from 100 OF interviewees and 100 NOF interviewees. The interviews enabled us to compare their attitudes towards organic farming based on four aspects, namely: organic farming knowledge, environment, marketing, and costs and benefits. Comparisons were made not only of socio-economic indicators, but also their opinions. Chi-square and t-test were employed to quantify correlations in this study. It was found that there was a correlation of attitudes of both OF and NOF interviewees in the four aspects examined. Additionally, educational level, farm holding and extensionworker contact affected opinions and attitudes of OF interviewees. Among NOF interviewees, their farming experiences affected their attitude towards organic farming.

Keywords: Comparison, farmers, organic farming, north-eastern Thailand, sustainability

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