Politics of Agriculturalist Groups in the Eastern Suburban Areas of Bangkok Metropolis

Abstract

 This research aims to study (1) factors affecting the emergence of farmer groups, (2) the political networks of farmer groups, and (3) the politics of farmer groups in the eastern suburbs of Bangkok using analytical research. The qualitative research consisted of in-depth interviews with 17 farmer group leaders and group members and document data analysis. The results of the research include factors affecting the emergence of farmer groups in the eastern suburbs of Bangkok, including (1) economic factors in terms of decreased income, lack of liquidity for households, and higher input costs but lower output prices, thus being an adjustment for survival, (2) support from government agencies in areas under operation according to government policy, and (3) economic development of farmer groups to gain strength, especially the establishment of community enterprise groups. Both formal and informal gatherings characterize the political networks of farmer groups. Formal networks result from operations under the rules and regulations of the district authority responsible for the area. The group’s activities will be following the rules and the staff’s project support. The politics of agricultural groups in the eastern suburbs of Bangkok result from transforming agricultural areas into housing development communities and the community economy into an industrial economy. The integration of farmer groups is not the result of the farmers’ initiative. Still, it arises mainly because of economic benefits such as survival together with the encouragement and support of the Agricultural Office Area 1, Department of Agricultural Extension and Cooperatives, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and the Bangkok District Office, which has responsibilities under the driving force of government policies and projects such as large plot farmer project of community enterprise group. The conditions for agricultural groups to operate according to the requirements of the government and government agencies indicate the use of politics as a tool for negotiating to obtain projects and budgets from government agencies, which is the primary goal of grouping together.