Lessons Learned from the Development Process of Organic Agriculture in Ban Khao Din, Khlong Hat District, Sa Kaeo Province

Abstract

Objective: To study the process of agricultural change to organic farming system of Ban Khao Din, Khlong Hat District, Sa Kaeo Province and key success factors in this change. Method: This study was qualitative research collecting the data by reviewing related documents, focus group discussion and in-depth interviews with informants. The informants were key leaders of the organic agricultural group at Khao Din, Khlong Hat District, Sa Kaeo Province, its members and those involved with the group. Lessons learned were derived using content analysis of data collected. Results: The organic farmers group at Ban Khao Din, established in 2011, started with 30 members of farmer families who had grown organic vegetables. To establish the group of organic farmers, the community has worked together to find solutions to the problems of farmers' health and the deteriorating environment. The community had chosen organic farming to promote and sustain health. At the same time, the government had a policy of promoting and supporting the community with various agencies coming to support both the budget and the knowledge. The result of the change to organic farming of the group led to the setting up of a system by the community to monitor contaminants that may be contaminated with plant grew by the group. Moreover, it also led the group to become model for learning center of sufficiency economy. Key success factors of the change were leaders of the farmer group having the skill in working with the community, participation in the search for problems within the community and finding solutions to the problem by the village community, support for budget and knowledge from government agencies, and the availability of market for the produces. Conclusion: The organic farming group in the study was originated from community-based initiatives to solve problems within the area and support from government policies, resulting in the development of the group for solving the problems in the community. However, development of the group had some restrictions including difficulty of group expansion. The difficulty was caused by the produce of the group not meeting the standards set by the Department of Agriculture leading to monopoly marketing. In addition, the organic farming of the community was planted in pots that needed to be kept in a building which increased the cost of farming, making group expansion difficult. This was contrary to the concept of successful group development. Therefore, more studies are needed on why the group has not grown as it should.