Abstract
Development process of pesticides-free vegetable production systemsin Chiang Mai Province The research has the objectives to provide better understanding on pesticide-free vegetable production systems, on process of group formation, organization and management of farmer groups and their sustainability, and to determine the roles of external institutions on the development of farmer groups. The sites selected for case studies were the pesticide-free vegetable production in Saraphi, Mae Rim and Phrao districts of Chiang Mai province. The research methods included semi-structured interview, where the target interviewees were farmer members, and key informants such as chairperson and committee members, farmer leaders, kaset Tambons (Subdistrict extension agents), NGOs, and retail markets of pesticide-free vegetables in Chiang Mai. The results showed that the farmer groups in Saraphi, Ban Muang Khum of Pong Yang subdistrict were organized and assisted by the District Agriculture office. The Doi Khum group of Pong Yang subdistrict were organized by the Doi Khum Royal Project, and the NGO was helping the farmer group at Phrao district to produce organic vegetables. The Saraphi group intercropped vegetables in young longan orchard. There was a tendency to cease growing pesticide-free vegetables when the fruit tree matured. The Mung Khum and Doi Khum groups grew their vegetables in rotation with flower production. Both open-field and closed net production practices were found. The Saraphi group grew more vegetables. Which the Pong Yang area (Mung Khum and Doi Khum) mainly produced vegetables on open field, consisting of both common type and sub-temperate vegetables. All three groups practised safe-use of pesticides. The Phrao group produce organic vegetables without using any chemicals or pesticides. The vegetables which were mainly local, were planted on open-fields around or not too distant from the house. The common vegetables were also grown during cool season. The groups marketed their produce differently. The Saraphi group, depending on one member as local trader, delivered their produce daily to various markets. The Doi Khum was contracted to the Royal Project, but was allowed to sell their discarded products to other markets. The Mung Khum group was further divided into six sub-groups, each handling its own marketing outlets independently. The Phrao group sold their surplus in the Saturday market organized by NGO in Chiang Mai at Im-Boon place. It is anticipated that the Saraphi group was not sustained due to less motivation to grow vegetables among most farmer members. The Doi Khum group depended solely on the Royal Project for marketing arrangement and production plan without the Royal Project, the group would disintegrated. The Mung Khum group, consisting of six subgroups working independently, could become strong if those sub groups could form alliance or network for production and marketing. The Phrao group, developed slowly but steady, would become self-reliance when the production is more stable.
