Impact of Coffee Based Production System on the Change of Socioeconomics and Environment of the Farmers in upper Northern Thailand

Abstract

This research work was carried out to study the impact of promoting arabica coffee cultivation on economic, social and environmental situations as well as to identify suitable arabica coffee cultivation systems in the upper north of Thailand. The study was done with interdisciplinry method; farmer interview in combination with quality research method was the main methodology. Randomly selected farmers in 7 villages were interviewed with semi-structured and informal questionings.

It was found that, there were 3 systems in arabica coffee cultivation, ie : monoculture, mixed system (in combination with forest trees, Prickle tea and forest trees, economic fruit trees) and coffee in backyard garden. The favorable and adverse characteristics of each system were described. In conclusion, coffee and fruit trees showed higher tendency of establishment due to lower risk in overall economic return, lower pest and disease incidence as a consequence of higher crop diversity. Moreover, soil and water conservation aspect was better in this system due to permanent land use while the chance of invasion into national reserved forest would be reduced and farming system on highland would be more toward sustainability.