Motor-Tricycle Taxi Drivers: An Alternative for Farmers in Udon Thani

Abstract

This article aimed to study livelihood and earning a living of motortricycle taxi drivers in Udon Thani Province, which emphasized motor-tricycle taxi drivers who were farmers at the same time. This research was the qualitative study that used documentary research and field research in Udon Thani City Municipality by In-depth interview from ten samples, including Non-Participant Observation and the study results were presented by descriptive method. The study found that motor-tricycle taxi driving was an important source of non-agricultural income for farmers in Udon Thani Province. Because the samples can earn cash wage day by day from this job. The service areas; the main and sub motor-tricycle taxi stops located in the bus station, in front of Udon Thani Rajabhat University. However, the changing and impacts from the globalized society causing the motor-tricycle taxi drivers to be affected in term of the reduction in passenger transport demand, more business competitors, and less income. But, this group was not likely to give up on what happening easily, reflected though their fight for a living wage from various activities. The current study suggested that the development of farmer society in a new context. The economic perspective, in particularly, must focus on the improvement and allowing them to have an opportunity to access the source of income at the same time both agricultural and non-agricultural sectors in order to contribute stability of the farmer society sustainably.