Land suitability and availability assessment for agriculture in lower Prachinburi watershed for Sa-Kaeo special economic zone by using analysis hierarchy process (AHP)
Abstract:
Lower Prachinburi watershed located in Sa Kaeo province In the eastern region of Thailand with an area of approximately 4,496,962 rai. It is also Sa Kaeo Special Economic Zone (SEZs) with an area of 207,500 rai which is located in the watershed that has been promoted economic crops, increasing quality and safe agricultural products. Therefore, it is necessary to have a land use plan with assessing the suitability of the land to utilize the land to its full potential which will be able to plan the production, determine the quantity and quality of agricultural products precisely. This study aims to assess the suitable and available of land for agriculture in the lower Prachinburi watershed for SEZs by using analytical hierarchy process (AHP). Results of land suitability studies revealed that the very suitable (S1) accounted for 48.80 percent; the moderately suitable (S2) accounted for 26.60 percent; the marginally suitable (S3) accounted for 12.20 percent; and the not suitable (N) accounted for 12.40 percent of the area. From analysis of land availability for agricultural by overlaying suitable land map with land use map found that the very suitable (S1) accounted for 41.86 percent; the moderately suitable (S2) accounted for 19.42 percent; the marginally suitable (S3) accounts for 10.59 percent; and the not suitable (N) accounted for 28.13 percent of the area. From overlaying the land suitability map with land availability map which will show the suitable areas for real agricultural land use in the lower Prachinburi watershed. Most of land were very suitable (S1) and moderately suitable accounted 33.24 and 18.43 percent, respectively. From the results of evaluation of land suitability and availability, it will be used as information to promote growing economic crops such as rice, cassava, sugarcane, rubber and palm oil, increasing quality agricultural products and safe to meet the SEZs, sending agricultural products to Indochina market which will be created an economy and increase the income of farmers in the SEZs and the lower Prachinburi watershed sustainably.