Farmers' perceptions and willingness to pay for forest stewardship council certification : a case study of rubber farmers in Bueng Kan Province, Thailand | |
| Author | Tinnagorn Petsungnoen |
| Call Number | AIT RSPR no.NR-24-02 |
| Subject(s) | Timber--Certification--Thailand Forest management--Thailand Farmers--Thailand--Attitudes |
| Note | A research study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Natural Resources Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | With the European Union's concern regarding climate change, the European Union Deforestation Free Regulation (EUDR) has been enforced to reduce deforestation. This regulation also applied to rubber products. Consequently, the exportation of rubber products to the EU must comply with their standards. While there is ongoing research on perceptions and willingness-to-pay (WTP) within the context of the FSC standards, limitations still exist on understanding farmer attitudes towards FSC standards. There is a scarcity of in-depth analysis specifically for rubber plantations, which is faced by rubber farmers. This research studied aims to bridge this knowledge gap crucial for sustainable forest management and the socio-economic welfare of rubber farming in compliance with the EUDR.The research involved 134 rubber farm households through an in-person questionnaire survey in three districts in Bueng Kan province (Meung Bueng Kan, Seka, and So Phisai districts) and interviews with government officers and related representatives. Farmers’ perceptions of FSC were elicited using Likert-scale questions, while WTP was assessed through the Contingent Valuation Method. Data analysis was done by employing both descriptive and inferential statistics.The study's results were divided into three parts. Firstly, in the in the assessment of rubber farmers’ understanding of FSC certification, there were three elements: awareness, perception, and attitude. The average mean score shows that rubber farmers had awareness of FSC certification at a moderate level and had perceptions and attitudes toward FSC certification at a high level. Overall, the average mean score was 3.66, which was very close to the lower bound of a high level of understanding, but the average mean score showed that rubber farmers had an understanding of FSC certification at a moderate level but tend to have a higher level of understanding. From the analysis of influencing factors on their understanding toward FSC, gender, education, labor usage, receiving information about FSC, number of times to contact government officers, and knowledge about sustainable forest management factors influenced their understanding toward FSC Certification. Second, the measure of rubber farmers’ WTP value for FSC certification shows that the average WTP value for FSC certification overall is 183.58 baht/rai/year for FSC value from benefit to farm and environment and 131.34 baht/rai/year for FSC value from benefit to farm and environment with expense for certification. Lastly, the analysis of influencing factors of WTP for FSC certification, with regression analysis, showed that from 12 factors, only education factor and marital status factor were statistically significant to willingness to pay for FSC certification. However, the model overall captures only a small portion of the variance in WTP, suggesting the presence of other unmeasured influences factors. For policy implementation, the study provided informing policy to enhance the adoption of FSC certification among rubber farmers and promote sustainable agriculture, by using customized educational programs to close knowledge gaps, along with economic incentives such as subsidies and premium pricing. Integrating psychological, cultural, and economic elements into these programs and fostering collaboration among local governments, NGOs, and the private sector can form an effective holistic approach, aligning with EU regulations and enhancing farmers' socio economic conditions.For future research, the study should focus on the impacts on non-certified farmers, economic outcomes in non-premium markets, differences in economic status among farmers, and buyers' perspectives on FSC certification to provide comprehensive insights into the challenges and benefits of sustainable practices. |
| Year | 2024 |
| Type | Research Study Project Report (RSPR) |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Natural Resources Management (NRM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Sasaki, Nophea |
| Examination Committee(s) | Tsusaka, Takuji W.;Ekbordin Winijkul |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Royal Thai Government Fellowship |
| Degree | Research Studies Project Report (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2024 |