| Abstract | The objectives of this study are comparing between organic and non-organic rice
production and identify farmer happiness index and strategies in Chiang Mai of rice-based
livelihood systems at national and regional levels that will improve the level of gross
national happiness (GNH). Data are collected by questionnaire from 60 farmers that
separate 2 equivalent groups; organic and non-organic farmers.
General characteristic of surveyed farmers found that most are male with 51-60 years-old,
have primary education, and married. They have an average of 3 people per household that
2 persons are in labor force aged. There is 1-5 Rai of land tenure. Organic farmers have
more income per capita than non-organic which the major source of income is own farm
enterprise. In the other hand, most non-organic farmers take on loan for vehicle but the
first objective for organic is agriculture and non-organic famers have more debt than
organic.
There are many different types of rice production inputs which organic farmers apply
environmentally friendly methods of farming such as manure, mechanism methods and
bio-control, but chemical methods are popular to use for non-organic farmers who know
the effect of using chemical, then non-organic farmers’ satisfactions to inputs are lower
than organic. However, non-organic farmers have more satisfaction to rice varieties than
organic.
As a result of happiness by asking, organic farmers have more happiness than non-organic
and their happiness through the day continuously decline since they get up and then feel
better after having lunch and some relax. Farmers identify the factors of happiness are
warm family, occupation, and money, respectively. In contrary, the farmers’ stresses come
from trying in farm, flood disaster, and backache, in order.
Based on regression equations, factors of organic farmers’ satisfaction and happiness in
Chiang Mai are related with total loans, levels of rice variety efficiency, and trend of
number of livestock and paddy filed, in contrary, non-organic; giving importance of
freedom and family life, neighborhood that help other, and meditation. In addition,
Adoption of organic culture is depended on farmers’ awareness about climate change and
sufficient income. |