Towards Organic Vegetable Farming in Mahasarakham Province, Thailand

Abstract The government of Thailand has been implementing organic vegetable promotion programs and projects since the late 1990s under the broad policy of sustainable agricultural development. Based on primarily secondary information and some primary information collected through a household survey conducted in four districts of the Mahasarakham province, this study revealed little progress, despite promotion of organic vegetables through several government and non-government organizations. Slightly more than half of the officially designated organic vegetable farmers were genuine organic farmers, while others were mixed vegetable farmers who used both organic and inorganic inputs. There was variation in the intensity of organic vegetable farming from one district to another due primarily to variation in soil suitability, availability of irrigation water and external support. Major policy implications of the findings of the research are outlined. Policy recommendations have been made for promotion of organic vegetable farming. KEYWORDS: sustainable agricultureorganic vegetable farmingorganic inputsinorganic inputsintensity of organic vegetable farmingMahasarakham province