Roles of actors in the development of organic farming in Baan Non-yang, Amphoe Kud-chum, Yasothon Province

Abstract

Organic agriculture in Thailand has been shaped by the agency factors with contestation on development in structural contexts since the 1970s. It emerged and developed as a part of alternative agriculture movement, and transformed in dynamic contexts with involvement of various actors. Organic farming in Non-Yang community can be perceived as the microcosm of the development. POs, NGOs, GOs and private sectors are involved into the community as actors of organic farming network. With negotiation and cooperation in the network, the movement has persisted and become viable until today. The thesis was conducted with a stakeholder analysis on the case of organic farming network in Non-Yang. The analysis was emphasized to dialogue with the food regime theory. The results suggest that the community-based organic farming movement does not achieve its success because of values. Nevertheless, it actually holds the concepts of seed sovereignty, health production, and alternative market. It is the mobilization of stakeholders and resources within the system, rather than the value-based mobilization against food regime. Within the mobilization and process of compromise, farmers have more space to bargain, connect with supporters, negotiate with different actors, and keep learning in the changing society.