Abstract
Health Impact Assessment (HIA) of Contract Farming in Thailand : A Scoping Process Objectives: 1) To define the scope of health impact assessment of contract farming policy. 2) To provide a venue for stakeholders’ participation in the health impact assessment Methods: The assessor used varieties of methods to identify the scopes of the health impact assessment. The processes were consisting of two meetings with stakeholders, in-depth interviews with farmers and seed companies’ personnel as well as government officials, direct observation at the farms and literature reviews. The definition of health used in the study was based on bio-psycho-social model. Results: The Thai government has been promoting Contract Farming practice since the 6th National Economic and Social Development Plan in 1987. Farmers will produce agricultural materials for agricultural industry companies and receive payment for the products if they comply with the standards defined in the contracts. Tomato seeds, chili seeds, tobacco leaves, vegetable seeds, chicken raising are examples of the agricultural products that are commonly defined in the contracts. Contract farming policy brings numbers of potential impacts, particularly on one that uses a lot of pesticides, on the health of farmers and villagers. Potential positive impacts are short-term financial benefits, choices of employment during dry season. Potential negative impacts are on physical health especially impacts on neurological illnesses, illnesses of endocrine systems, illnesses of reproductive systems. It has been shown that stakeholders were concerned about health impact of the contract farming practice in terms of physical health, mental health, social health, spiritual health, social impacts and environmental impacts. Literature reviews found that farmers and farm employees were affected by the heavy use of pesticides. Neurological illnesses were the most common problems. Stakeholders have identified scopes for health impact assessment including impacts on physical health, mental health, social health, spiritual health, social impact, economic impact, environmental impact. The stakeholders also proposed that assessment of impacts on illnesses of endocrine system, reproductive system and cancers were needed. Qualitative and quantitative methods of data collections with stakeholders’ involvement have been identified for the assessment. Conclusion It has been shown that early involvement of stakeholders in the scoping processes of health impact assessment is feasible and beneficial to all involved and it is more likely that the results of health impact assessment will be used.
