The purpose of the study are to identify the motivations behind individual’s choice to make mid-career change from non-farm works to farming occupation in sustainable agricultural systems and to gain an insight into the mid-career change process of those recently turned farmers to work in sustainable agricultural systems and the last one is to understand the quality of life status after mid-career change of those recently turned farmers to work in sustainable agricultural systems.
Therefore, the present researcher perceives the significance and usefulness of an investigation into this emerging phenomenon and proposes to undertake a study titled “Motivations to take up agriculture as career choice and quality of life after practicing sustainable agricultural systems”.
The findings from such investigation can form the basis for developing a set of guidelines or actions to motivate young people to pay more interest in working on farm which in turn help promote greater entrance of people in younger generation into Thai agricultural sector to replace the country’s aging farmers and inherit the latter’s traditional occupation. It is also important to trace the stages and processes taken by those who changed their career into farming as well as their problems and obstacles. The answers and information obtained from a study along this line can be useful for those government agencies or local organizations working in agricultural extension activities to serve young farmers. Furthermore, the life experience of such salary men turned farmers can be a deciding factor for people who want to have a mid-career change into farming but remain reluctant. It is thus logical to also examine the quality of life after the career change to prove and confirm that farming occupation particularly in the direction of sustainable agricultural systems can generate income and employment security as well as contribute to better quality of life in terms of good health and sound mind. The obtained information can be used well as examples and guidelines in agricultural extension programs to help elevate levels of farm income and life quality as well as to make younger people have a good viewpoint or attitude towards agricultural career.