Economic Change at Hmong Tribe Community in Mon Jam Area, Mae Ram Sub-District, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate economic change and analyze related conditions of economic change. The study area was located at Mon Jam covering the area of Nong Hoi Kao village, Nong Hoi Mai village, and Pang Hai-Mae Khi village. There were twenty target participants covering community leaders, community members, and relevant agencies. Document analysis, interviews, and focus-groups were used for data collection. Semi-structured interview was used for interviewee and key issue form was used for participants in focus groups.

The result indicated that the economic change of Mhong ethnics began in the era of opium dependence and shifting cultivation for subsistence. This change moved to the era of infrastructure and education development. Promotion of agriculture in place of opium cultivation has resulted in better income and living conditions for the community. Then, the economic community depended upon agricultural tourism more than agriculture since the popularity of Mon Jam tourism occurred. Ultimately, the negative impact of environment from tourism and land right conflict in preservation area forced community into the era of adaptation to search for sustainable development. However, the conditions of these changes included internal community conditions; physical environment of Mon Jam, knowledge of Mhong ethnics, learning and adaption, and returning to community of young people, and external community conditions; government policy, development, and related agencies encouragement.