The Way to Support the Organic Farming to Create Health Community at Na Ngua, Phetchabun Province

Abstract

The aims of the study were to study the agricultural situation of the community and to examine the way to support the organic farming to create health community at Na Ngua, Phetchabun Province. According to qualitative research methodology, the participants, by purposive selection, were randomized into 3 groups: 1) 30 farmers in Na Ngua district,  2) community leaders, namely headmen, the mayor, and members of the municipality council, and 3) specialists, namely public health technical officers, agricultural technical officers, and teachers of Non-Formal Education. In addition, the study methodologies were implemented in order as follows : Step 1 was to study about organic farming situations by interviewing with farmers and community leaders and participant observation; Step 2 was to instruct the farmers about safe farming, organic farming and community health; Step 3 was to use focus group discussion with the 3 target groups to analyze the way to support the organic farming to create health community; Step 4 was to analyze data by content analysis and then summarize the results.  The agricultural situation showed that most farmers do rice farming, followed by tobacco, corn, vegetables, and crops, which are produced for trade rather than subsistence and intensive chemical use. Community leaders and related agencies trying to develop Na Ngua Sub-district to be a safe agricultural area. Save environment. And promote the health of farmers to have good health, but also found that there are many factors that hinder the change in the way of production from agricultural to chemical intensive to agricultural safety and organic agriculture  The study findings indicated that The main factors promoting organic farming were ;  1) Debt management for farmers due to the commitment to capitalism in tobacco planting. The farmers cannot escape the debt. 2) Bumper crop support due to the factors surrounding neighboring areas, farming using intensive chemicals. And the farmers have the opinion that If you do organic farming, it does not work because the farming area is adjacent to a non-toxic area.    3) Provide knowledge about safe farming and organic farming, as well as lack of knowledge of modern production techniques. 4) Creating Learning Resources / Demonstration plots to farmers with limited land. Create a collaborative network of work. To support the farmers seriously.  For further research suggestions must do research to find a common way between farmers, community leaders and academics to create organic farming in a concrete community.

Promote the creation of a learning network and develop public areas in the community to be the market for organic products.