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conferenceseries.com
11th World Congress on
March 05-07, 2018 | Paris, France
Plant Biotechnology and Agriculture
Volume 6 Advances in Crop Science and Technology
ISSN: 2329-8863 Agri World 2018
March 05-07, 2018
Development of organic farming using participatory guarantee systems: A case study in land reform area,
Ayutthaya province, central Thailand
Prae-ravee K-hasuwan
Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand
Statement of the Problem: Farmers who are members of a Lat Bua Luang Community Rice Center (LBLCRC) in land reform area,
Ayutthaya province, central Thailand, used conventional farming techniques and did not have enough profit to feed their family
members. They then switched to organic rice cultivation to reduce their production costs and initiated organic vegetable production
to boost their income using Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS). PGS can improve local organic farming practices through the
sharing of knowledge and experiences. PGS certification also has less administration and lower costs than third party certification.
However, PGS is not prevalent inThailand because most producers and consumers lack understanding of its processes and advantages.
This study thus aims to examine the outcome of organic group processing and the interaction between the LBLCRC-member farmers
and other stakeholders from participating in PGS.
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: Collaborative action research using a concept of empowerment theory was conducted to
promote the organic group processing and the ability to control selling prices. The face-to-face interviews and focus group discussions
were also taken place during data collection procedures.
Findings: The participation in PGS can improve organic group process skills of the LBLCRC-member farmers and strengthen them
to have better access to domestic markets rather than limiting their organic products into a local niche market.
Conclusion & Significance: PGS may be a promising alternative for smallholder farmers to develop organic group processing and to
increase market accessibility. Further studies in the way to scale up other land reform areas under organic farming using PGS should
be emphasized.
Biography
Prae-ravee K-hasuwan is currently working at Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand and has expertise in organic agriculture standard, sustainable
agricultural development, and agricultural land reform. Her working model focuses on promoting farmers in land reform areas of Thailand to be self-sufficient and
to have a better living. She has operated the model through research, monitoring, and evaluation.
Prae-ravee K-hasuwan, Adv Crop Sci Tech 2018, Volume 6
DOI: 10.4172/2329-8863-C1-005