Environmental Services from Organic Agricultural System: Policies Promoting Sustainable Agriculture Thanwa Jitsanguan, Ph.D. Bhantinee Sootsukon,Ph.D.

Environmental Services from Organic Agricultural System:

Policies Promoting Sustainable Agriculture

Thanwa Jitsanguan, Ph.D.Bhantinee Sootsukon,Ph.D.Dept.of Agricultural and Resource EconomicsKasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand

Agriculture in Thailand

50% population 40% country area 25% export earning 10% GDP World leading exporters of rice,

rubber, cassava, shrimp, chicken, sugar, canned pineapple, and canned tuna

Dualistic structure between Large Scale Agribusiness and Small-Scale Farmers

Closely related to environment and culture as “Way of life”

Sustainable Agriculture

“SA is any agricultural system that are complementary to natural resources and environmental conditions in order to produce safe and diversified products so as to reduce natural and economic risks while passing the learning process of farmers from generations to generations”

Sub-systems consideration under SA

Ecological system

Economic system

Social

system

Sustainable Agriculture

(SA)

Practical Sustainable Agriculture in Thailand

Agro-forestry system Integrated farming system New Theory farming system Organic farming system Natural farming system

Organic Agricultural System

Production with ecological balance Most related to environmental

services Price premium to farm products Health concern for producers and

consumers Food safety from farm to table

Small-scale farmers’ group : Research Data and Rationale

Small-scale is majority Thai farmers Produce significant ES from organic

agriculture Selecting 8 farmers’ groups from 4

geographical regions ES varied by different regional

resource base and society

Framework of the study

Organic farming

Economic benefits

Environmental services

Social synergy

Market Values Non-Market Values

Estimated ES values

Market values

Non-market values

Northern 157,058 (25%)

462,905 (75%)

Central 278,038 (40%)

405,338 (60%)

Northeastern 313,458 (30%)

699,189 (70%)

Southern 403,953 (60%)

243,035 (40%)

Environmental Services from Organic Agriculture

Market Values Agro-tourism Non-wood

products

Environmental Services from Organic Agriculture

Non-market values Biodiversity Soil nutrients Top soil protection Water purification Water retention Flood resistance Education Research Local wisdom

Policies recommended in promoting Sustainable Agriculture through PES concept

Market- values

Producers Consumers

Govt.

Agro-tourism

Non-wood products

Price premium on private goods and club goods.

Prevention cost of farm resource base.

Non-market values

Producers Consumers

Govt.

Biodiversity

Soil nutrients

Top soil protection

Subsidy programs on social welfare.

Non-market values

Producers Consumers

Govt.

Water purification

Water retention

Flood resistance

Participatory Funds for jointed services.

Non-market values

Producers Consumers

Govt.

Education

Research

Local wisdom

Policy Recommendation

Taken into consideration ES in Agricultural and Rural Planning

Better differentiation between private, common and public goods

Improvement in property right and identifying payers

Always relied on holistic and participatory approach

Conclusion

ES is one of main elements in agricultural planning for small-scale farmers

Implementation of PES in Thailand requires further discussion

Need for Better understanding in ES concept and application for GOs and farmers

Scarcity of knowledge development and current research on ES

Thank You for Your Attention……