Decision pattern and socio-economic factors affecting rural-to-urban land use change in the context of urbanization : a case study of Bang Bua Thong District, Nonthaburi, Thailand | |
| Author | Panita Ratthanasirichoke |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.NR-13-02 |
| Subject(s) | Farmers--Decision making--Thailand--Nonthaburi Land use--Social conditions--Thailand--Nonthaburi Land use--Decision making--Thailand--Nonthaburi Land use--Economic conditions--Thailand--Nonthaburi |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Sciences in Natural Resources Management, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. NR-13-02 |
| Abstract | In the past, Thailand was an agricultural - based economy, the economic, social and cultural factors are fundamentally from agricultural traditions. Most of Thai people are working in an agricultural sector and live in rural areas. Development in the country affects to land use change from agricultural land use to urban land use. Especially, most of land use change areas in sub - urban Bangkok. Expansion of urban areas causes the decrease of rice farming area. Especially, local people who have been farmers in the past have to change jobs and transition out of farming. The main objective is to investigate and analyze socio - economic factors contributing to and resulting from rural to urban land use change in Bang Bua Thong district, Nonthaburi province. The study focus to study socio - economic drivers and effects land use change, main perceived reasons for farmers to either remain in or transition out of rice farming, generational change affect l and use patterns in the study area and positive and negative effect of urbanization to rice farming. The results are divided to 4 parts. First is socio - economic drivers and effects land use change. Second are main perceived reasons for farmers to either re main in or transition out of rice farming. Third are generational change affect land use patterns in the study area. Last is positive and negative effect of urbanization to rice farming. There are 2 main factors that affect land use change patterns. First is economic factor. Second is social factor. Economic factors which drive land use change are land value increase, new economic activities and cost. Social factors which drive land use change are education, popularity and attitudes change and job opportuni ties. Effects of land use change are divided into 2 effects. Economic effects are debt, income uncertainty and expenses increase. Social effects are lack of farm labor, transition of farmer, lack of family and kin group relationships. Main perceived reason s for farmers are different between farmers who want remain in rice farming and farmers who want to transition out of rice farming. Most of farmers who want remain in rice farming have an own land and want to save and keep their land. Main reason of Farmer s who want to transition out of rice farming is income. Income of rice farming is not enough for their life. They have to change a job which they receive more income and benefits. Moreover, land use change affect to decision making of new generation. There are two main factors to decision making. First is economic factor such as income and benefits. Second is social factor such as education, opportunity in jobs, western culture, attitude and popularity, media consumption. Therefore, decision making of new g eneration effects to land use change. Generational change effects land use change. After old generation of farmer stop farming, land use changes. Most of the new generation of farmers want to transition out of farming and turn to urban jobs. Attitude and p opularity of the new generation are main factors to decision making. New generation of farmers want to sell their paddy fields to investors and migrate to urban areas. Therefore, paddy areas will change to industrial, housing developments or office buildin gs. Generational change is one of the drivers of land use change in Bang Bua Thong. Lastly,The effects of urbanization to rice farming are divided to positive and negative effects. Positive effects are transportation development, infrastructure development and easier to buy farming equipment. Negative effects of urbanization to rice farming are adaptation for farming, environment problems, increase of land price, laborers crisis and decrease of rice product. In conclusion, socio - economic drivers are factors of land use change and land use change affects social. However, the main factor of land use change in the future of Bang Bua Thong is a decision making of the new generation. |
| Year | 2013 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. NR-13-02 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Natural Resources Management (NRM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Grunbuhel, Clemens |
| Examination Committee(s) | Shrestha, Rajendra Prasad;Jourdain, Damien |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Royal Thai Government Fellowship;Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2013 |