Agriculture, Food Security, and Economic Development in Thailand
摘要
This chapter begins by discussing the growing importance of agriculture to the Thailand economy, including the policies the government launched to promote the sector. While Thailand enjoys food security if the measure is confined to trade measurements, it does raise a number of security issues facing especially small rural farmers. Thailand’s agriculture sector has often sheltered the national economy whenever external shocks destabilize economic development, but is now facing serious challenges. While historically a major contributor to exports and rural livelihoods, the sector has been grappling with price volatility, resource depletion, and farmer indebtedness. Government policies, though evolving towards sustainability and commercialization, have often provided inadequate support, leading to declining economic contribution and persistent poverty among especially the small farmers. Recent initiatives, such as digital agriculture and climate resilience, hold promise but have yet to fully address the sector’s deep-rooted issues. Overcoming challenges like small farm size, landlessness, ageing farmers, and limited market access requires a comprehensive approach focused on sustainable practices, value chain development, and farmer empowerment.