Setakit Por Piang means working for earning enough for a living, in English, it should be "sustainability" In agriculture, sustainable agriculture means not doing farm too over capacity, but just being appropriate to self ability, acquiring input, and land particularly environmental friendly. Getting unreasonable loan from the bank, farmers have to pay high interest without good return. Sustainable agriculture can be either single or multiple farming. In case the single farming such as flowers, vegetables, they should not be risky and give a certain income.
If a farmer has 5 hectares of rice growing only, when the disasters happen such as drought or severe pest outbreak, the farmer gets nothing. But, if he operates some few crops or fish and/or livestock in 5 hectares. His farming business increase and minimize risks. Multiple farming therefore means doing more farm business on the same size of land. It is a concept of diversified farming.
I learnt about diversified farming in Chachoengsao since I was in the practical training course of last studying year.[1967] We went there and observed the farms. The words " diversified farming" was new to me. Then, two years afterward, I was directed to work stationing in Chachoengsao at the regional agricultural extension office, worked partly on diversified farming. And until 20 years passed, there was the new theory agriculture which was one of diversification. They devided land into parts as ratio of 3:3:3:1. The first "3" grew rice, second "3" for fish pond, third "3" for other perennial or other cash crops and the last "1" was homestead. This new theory was appointed by His Majesty the King. The programme was good particularly in developing country like Thailand where the majority of farmers occupy small land. But it must be the farmer decision freely.
This is just to inform by my opinion that diversified farming [multiple farming in a certain area] is a part of sustainability but not all. Single farming can sustain as well. However, we should do farming with optimum investment. In other words, we invest as much as we can afford, not more than that.
Farming nowadays, is a far cry from the past. Farmers are so experienced and get good income. It is an occupation for the people who like being independent, living in nature, and observing development of lives. I used to dream of being a farmer, driving tractor, when I was a student. Now I am home with nothing to do but still follow some farmer progresses by reading farming magazines. I wish everyone stop fighting for nothing except only the politician benefits and come back to development of professional technique. This is a way of country progress. Chavalvut Chainuvati
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