Challenges of making a new farmer: a case study of Thailand’s Young Smart Farmer program

In the recent years, there has been a global decline in the number of farmers contributing to the agrarian transition. Therefore, this study delves into the case study of Thailand's ‘Young Smart Farmer (YSF)’ program, designed to counteract the declining farmer population. The study seeks to el...

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Main Authors: Kittipan Tikum, Mokbul Morshed Ahmad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Development Studies Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21665095.2024.2414014
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author Kittipan Tikum
Mokbul Morshed Ahmad
author_facet Kittipan Tikum
Mokbul Morshed Ahmad
author_sort Kittipan Tikum
collection DOAJ
description In the recent years, there has been a global decline in the number of farmers contributing to the agrarian transition. Therefore, this study delves into the case study of Thailand's ‘Young Smart Farmer (YSF)’ program, designed to counteract the declining farmer population. The study seeks to elucidate the motivations behind individuals opting to become new farmers and the challenges they face. It revealed five primary motivations to embrace farming: profitability, well-being, traditional and cultural values, taking over the family business, and social influences. This study also identifies the current challenges encountered by Thai farmers, including issues related to agricultural production, marketing, assets, seasonality and unexpected shocks, and criticism. To improve the program’s effectiveness, this study recommends four key strategies: establishing knowledge certification linkages, refinement of workshops and training content, expanding farmer networks, and implementing policies aimed at nurturing new farming talent.
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spelling doaj-art-35166dfaeb5f41fa93a67f41d93f91e82025-08-20T02:20:51ZengTaylor & Francis GroupDevelopment Studies Research2166-50952024-12-0111110.1080/21665095.2024.2414014Challenges of making a new farmer: a case study of Thailand’s Young Smart Farmer programKittipan Tikum0Mokbul Morshed Ahmad1Development Planning Management and Innovation, Department of Development and Sustainability, Asian Institute of Technology, Klong Luang, ThailandDevelopment Planning Management and Innovation, Department of Development and Sustainability, Asian Institute of Technology, Klong Luang, ThailandIn the recent years, there has been a global decline in the number of farmers contributing to the agrarian transition. Therefore, this study delves into the case study of Thailand's ‘Young Smart Farmer (YSF)’ program, designed to counteract the declining farmer population. The study seeks to elucidate the motivations behind individuals opting to become new farmers and the challenges they face. It revealed five primary motivations to embrace farming: profitability, well-being, traditional and cultural values, taking over the family business, and social influences. This study also identifies the current challenges encountered by Thai farmers, including issues related to agricultural production, marketing, assets, seasonality and unexpected shocks, and criticism. To improve the program’s effectiveness, this study recommends four key strategies: establishing knowledge certification linkages, refinement of workshops and training content, expanding farmer networks, and implementing policies aimed at nurturing new farming talent.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21665095.2024.2414014Thailand agricultureagricultural challengeYoung Smart Farmer programsmart farmingfarming motivation
spellingShingle Kittipan Tikum
Mokbul Morshed Ahmad
Challenges of making a new farmer: a case study of Thailand’s Young Smart Farmer program
Development Studies Research
Thailand agriculture
agricultural challenge
Young Smart Farmer program
smart farming
farming motivation
title Challenges of making a new farmer: a case study of Thailand’s Young Smart Farmer program
title_full Challenges of making a new farmer: a case study of Thailand’s Young Smart Farmer program
title_fullStr Challenges of making a new farmer: a case study of Thailand’s Young Smart Farmer program
title_full_unstemmed Challenges of making a new farmer: a case study of Thailand’s Young Smart Farmer program
title_short Challenges of making a new farmer: a case study of Thailand’s Young Smart Farmer program
title_sort challenges of making a new farmer a case study of thailand s young smart farmer program
topic Thailand agriculture
agricultural challenge
Young Smart Farmer program
smart farming
farming motivation
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21665095.2024.2414014
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