How does organic agriculture contribute to food security of small land holders?: A case study in the North of Thailand

Abstract

There has been a trend to encourage organic agriculture in response to improve global food security. This article investigated how organic agriculture contributed to food security of small land holders experiencing organic agriculture. It involved in-depth interview, focus group, and participatory observation from a purposive sample of thirty participants at San Sai and Muang Wa Villages, Luang Neua Sub-District, Doi Sa Ket District, Chiang Mai Province, the north of Thailand. The result indicated the important aspects of organic agriculture that contributed to food security of small land holders. These aspects included integrated production leading to self-reliance on food, production management for sufficient economy, culture relating to food access and sustainability, and participation in protecting natural resource and environment to ensure sustainable food production. However, they required agriculture land ownership, a group and network of organic agriculture, consumer and fair market, and agency support. In addition, there were risk factors of food security in organic agriculture: climate change relating to drought, lack of agriculture succession, and expansion of chemical agriculture.