The Traditional Multiple Cropping Management Knowledge of Farmers in Chiang Mai Valley: Mae Kung Village. Amphur San Patong and Harn Kaew Village, Amphur Hang Dong

Abstract

The traditional multiple cropping management of farmers was studied by comparing one village with good soils to the other with poor soils in Chiang Mai valley. The data were collected through use of interview schedule, and statistical techniques used were percentage and chi-square test. The result shows that, rice in both villages is the main subsistence crop grown primarily in the wet season. Most of land is double-cropped with rice as the base. Glutinous rice is generally grown for consumption. The main variety being San Patong because of its palatability. Non-glutinous rice is grown for sale, the main variety being R.D.7 because it gives high yield. Most upland crops are tobacco and soybean being grown in the cool season after the rice is harvested. Furthermore, rice variety selection depends on timing strategies of various cropping systems. Daw Prao or R.D.7 which mature earlier (in about three months) are grown widely before chilli pepers, tobacco and cucumber because farmers can get good price from these cash crops. Tobacco is planted early according to the advice of the tobacco curing barn. Late maturing rice varieties such as San Patong and other glutinous rices are often cultivated before soybean which is grown lately at the beginning of January.

However, both villages are significantly different at .01 level in the traditional method of rice weeding and the use of herbicide. Farmers at the village with good soils are using the traditional weeding method more than the village with poor soils. Traditional method is to pull the weeds by hand, by laying the larger weeds on the bund and trampling the small ones into the soil.

Soybean is a popular crop in the cool season in both villages. All farmers use the traditional planting method by putting soybean seeds into the rice stubble. There are significant difference at .05 level in a number of farmers who grow soybean in both villages. Farmers at the village with good soils are growing soybean more than the village with poor soils.

There is no difference between the two villages in the rate of fertilizer applied on rice and soybean. However, there is significantly difference at .01 level in discussing with neighbors about soil problems. That is, farmers at the village with poor soils are more often discussing about soil problems than those at the village with good soils.