Promoting organic agriculture in land reform areas to create a model for amending the law of land reform to promote organic agriculture: a case study of Sakon Nakhon Province.

Abstract

The objectives of the research are 1) to study the guidelines for converting chemical agriculture to organic agriculture in the Land Reform Area 2) Study the laws related to land reform and organic farming both domestically and internationally 3) Study the model of amendments to promotion of organic agriculture in the Agricultural Land Reform Act, B.E. 2518. This research used mixed methods research consisting           of the qualitative research that used tools including document research, in-depth interview, participation design, and hearing and the quantitative research by using                     the questionnaire. The study populations are farmers, involved officer, consumers, and academics.

          The research found that most of farmers still use chemicals but want to change to organic farming by supporting knowledge and funds from the government. However, Thailand does not yet have an organic agriculture law while the European Union and  the United States have organic agriculture laws. From data and foreign laws, this led to the amendment of the Land Reform Act to Agriculture B.E. 2518 by adding a category to promote organic agriculture. It consists of the duties and responsibilities of the Land Reform office, measures to promote organic agriculture, benefits of farmers who receive organic agriculture promotion, and criteria for revoking benefits in agricultural land reform areas.

          Research suggestion is that government amend the Agricultural Land Reform Act, B.E. 2518 to establish the criteria for promotion and controlling farmers by issuing                    a secondary law to ensure enforcement of organic agricultural promotion sustainable in land reform area.