A study of the factors having effected and changed agriculturists' professional life at Ban Huathanon Mu 6 Nongmu sub-district, Wihandang district, Saraburi province
Abstract:
This qualitative research aimed at studying factors affecting agriculturalists occupational changes and investigating the consequent effects after the occupational changes in the context of Ban Huathanon Community, Mu 6, Nongmu sub-district, Wiharndang district, Saraburi province. Based on the communitys historical survey, it can be concluded that the community consists of 89 families. Actually, Ban Huathanons original name is Ban Klongsamsipsam. This name was derived from the name of one of the canals which branched off from Rapeepat canal that was dug in the reign of King Wajirawuth (Rama VI). The canal is about 90 years old. From the obtained information, it is assumed that Ban Huathanon Community is over 100 years old. Most of its residents primitive occupation is farming (rice growing). Initially, people worked on farms to earn their living. Later they grew rice for both their living and trading. Growing rice for trading required more money for capital. They had to increase the production cost, and finally they encountered the losses. Consequently, the farmers had a lot of debts. So, they turned to other jobs, such as harvesting on orange plantations and being hired as general employees. The attempt for new jobs did not give the residents better lives. So, they looked for other careers: cultivating paddy straw mushrooms and being employees in straw mushroom paddies. At this , the people have been successful. They gain more income than from growing rice or oranges. Their success is from many causes: low capital, little land use, permanent market availability, stability of the mushrooms prices, and exploitation of some local materials and equipment. Although cultivating paddy straw mushrooms and being employees in a mushroom greenhouse induces many benefits, these careers cause some problems, such as air pollution, growers and residents health deterioration, respiratory disease, and local raw material consumption. From the results of this study, some valuable suggestions are also given and are worth noting. Firstly, the government should provide support to the mushroom farmers in setting up a paddy straw mushroom association and a mushroom cooperative in order to negotiate the prices and the markets, including financial support for occupational development from the government or private sectors. This association probably allows its members to have an opportunity to share ideas and help its members to solve any problems. Secondly, they should have a processing system of producing many forms of processed mushrooms to increase value-added products. Lastly, a mushroom grower network should be constructed as the link for farmers to share opinions, to exchange experience among the members, and to increase the possibility of natural resource accessibility.