WAYS TO DEVELOP CERTAIN OPTIONS OF SUBSTITUTING FOR TOBACCO PLANTATION FOR TOBACCO FARMERS BY COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

Abstract

This research article aims to examine (1) the process of community participation in reflecting problems related to local tobacco cultivation and (2) approaches for determining alternative measures to substitute tobacco farming for tobacco farmers.
A qualitative research methodology was employed. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews with key informants selected by using purposive sampling, including tobacco farmers, government officials, representatives from civil society, and community leaders. In addition, a participatory training workshop was organized to collaboratively develop alternative measures for substituting tobacco cultivation.

The research results were found as follows; (1) community members reflected several problems related to tobacco cultivation, including rising production costs, declining government quotas for tobacco production, the lack of formal farmer associations, and health problems among farmers resulting from exposure to agricultural chemicals. (2) The proposed alternative measures include promoting integrated organic farming and community enterprises based on the New Theory Agriculture and the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy. The study also encourages collaboration between farmers and private companies in the production and distribution of hemp and cannabis for medical purposes, following the decriminalization policy and the legalization of hemp and cannabis. In addition, community enterprises are encouraged to engage in processing and marketing products derived from hemp and cannabis, which are economically valuable crops with the potential to substitute tobacco cultivation. These approaches highlight the importance of community participation and legal policy reform in supporting sustainable agricultural transition and improving the livelihoods of tobacco farmers.