Thailand's agricultural sector faces mounting challenges from rapid population aging, leaving elderly farmers as a vital yet vulnerable workforce. Prolonged exposure to chemical-based farming threatens their health, food security, and economic stability. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a community-driven capacity-building model that promotes a transition to safe and sustainable agriculture among elderly farmers in Uttaradit Province, Thailand. Using a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach with the Appreciation–Influence–Control (A–I–C) technique, the intervention engaged 40 elderly farmers (aged 60–75 years) and 50 local stakeholders. Quantitative data were analyzed using paired t-tests for continuous variables and McNemar tests for paired categorical outcomes. Effect sizes were calculated using Cohen's d, and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically to support quantitative findings. Significant improvements were observed following the intervention. Chemical use decreased by 73% (p < 0.001). Monthly household income increased by 3,500 THB (95% CI: +2,931 to +4,069; p < 0.001; d = 1.97). Input costs declined by 1,800 THB (95% CI: –2,041 to –1,559; p < 0.001; d = 2.39). Farmers reporting health symptoms decreased from 68% to 12% (McNemar p < 0.001; r ≈ 0.78). Crop diversity increased from 4.2 to 8.7 varieties (95% CI: +3.86 to +5.14; p < 0.001; d = 2.25). Community structures such as the Organic Fertilizer Production Group and the Green Market were established, ensuring long-term sustainability. The findings demonstrate that participatory and empowering approaches can effectively enable elderly farmers to improve their health, food security, and community resilience, providing a replicable model for sustainable rural development and public health improvement.
Ruanjan et al. (Fri,) studied this question.