A study of the effect of four-wheel tractors on the role of livestock in the farming system of Nan province, Thailand | |
| Author | Singzon, Sharon B. |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no. AE-92-35 |
| Subject(s) | Tractors--Thailand--Nan Agricultural systems--Thailand--Nan |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Fifty farmers and six tractor owners from the district of Mae Charim, Nan province, Thailand were interviewed between January to March 1992. This was done in order to know the existing farming systems and how the presence of four-wheel tractors has affected the system, particularly the livestock~ component. Hiring of tractor has been done since it came to the district more than 1.en years ago. Adoption of it has largely been due to the immediate benefit that farmer gets which is relief from heavy and long working hours in preparing their fields for planting. It is appropriate for for working in the uplands and highlands where a lot of energy is required to cultivate the slopes and difficult land. It was noticed that among tractor owners, there was a reduction in number of animals raised. However, among the farmers, there was a slight increase in the nw11ber of animal raisers. Raising of livestock for meat rather than for work is becoming more common. Crop and livestock intensification is not yet strong among tractor users. Although some of them have already started little innovations (use of improved varieties of crops and animal breeds, use of fertilizers, chemicals, and veterinary drugs, et c.) that would eventually lead 10 intensification. Areas alloted to growing of commercial crops are increasing while for traditionally grown field crops are decreasing. Economic analysis showed that farmers who used four-wheel tractor in the previous year had a lower gross margin, rate of return to machinery, and retw11 to va1iable cost compared to the fanners who did not use it. last year. But on the whole, those who used tractor have higher farm household cash income. |
| Year | 1992 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agricultural and Food Engineering (AE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Upasena, Selawa H. |
| Examination Committee(s) | Suthad Setboornsang ;Damkaen Chandrapanya ; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | British Government ; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1992 |