Thai farmers are interested in alternative vegetable farming such as safe use farming, natural farming, chemical pesticide free farming and organic farming. They strongly believe that alternative farming can provide economic feasibility due to the high prices of their products, while reducing the burden on the environment. Based on a questionnaire survey of 142 vegetable growers under different production systems in Chiang Mai Province in 2008, this paper aims to clarify whether or not organic farming is a feasible form of sustainable agriculture under small farm size conditions. Sustainability of organic farming is analyzed in terms of farm income, and environmental and social impact in comparison with other production systems.
There was diversified farming of rice, vegetables, fruits and livestock in Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai Province. In the villages studied, average overall cost of environmental and social impacts of kale production was estimated to be 350 USD per year (one rai is equivalent to 0.16 ha; one USD is equal to 34.35 Baht at the time of study in 2008). The environmental and social impacts were the most important factor in improvement of production efficiency among four vegetable farming systems. The conventional kale production appeared to have the highest negative environmental and social impact, while the lowest was attained by organic farming. Only in the case of organic production, the average cost decreased due to the reduced negative impact, and organic growers could raise farm income per ha per year to 7,150 USD. This situation demonstrates that organic farming had the sustainable manner due to the highest profit with higher prices contributing to the highest income, and the lowest negative impacts for environmental and social sectors in comparison with other production system in Chiang Mai.
The article can be download from ISSAAS Journal website (655 KB)
