Effects of Shortage of Agricultural Workers on Food Security in Chiang Mai

Abstract

This research aimed to study: 1) situation of agricultural workers on food security in Chiang Mai, 2) impact of the shortage of agricultural workers on food security in Chiang Mai, 3) ways and suggestions for enhancing food security in Chiang Mai. This study was conducted in five districts in Chiang Mai as follows: Mae Jaem, Jomthong, Fang, Chiang Dao, and Mae Ai. Data were collected by using a questionnaire, doing in-depth interview, and observing. The samples of this study were 400 agricultural workers in Chiang Mai. The quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis.

The results of the study on agricultural labor situation in food security in Chiang Mai showed that the proportion of agricultural workers was decreasing. Membership in agricultural households older than 65 years was likely to increase. This population must be a group that the government must provide close and continuous supervision because in addition to being a food producer, it was still a group of people who were living inferior to other people in society. As a result of the increase in the elderly population, the proportion of the elderly in the labor force was likely to increase. This was because in the future working age population was likely to decrease and labor shortage will occur. It was one of the reasons that the elderly who had the potential to work will replace those in working age. So, these aging populations were becoming increasingly important and can impact on the economy and society of the country and the food security of Thailand in the future. 

The guideline and suggestions for enhancing food security was mainly by relying upon nature or proximity to water source which was good for sowing and growing crops. And inevitably labor force came from foreign workers. Farmers adapt to this situation by the following: 1) increasing land area for planting field crops or changing main crops, 2) applying integrated farming by planting field crops and raising livestock which required knowledge and skills, less technology, less risks with high chances of success and used of least resources.