Classification of Sustainable Agriculture
Since His Majesty the King Bhumiphol Adulyadej proposed a new agricultural theory
in 1993, the government has changed the agricultural development direction to the objective of
sustainability. There are 5 types of sustainable agriculture practices in Thailand.
1) Integrated Farming
Integrated farming is a farming system that has at least two different agricultural
activities in the same field, for example, paddy and fish raising, or pig farming, fish raising and
vegetable plantation. Practicing various agricultural activities at the same time helps reduce
costs, that is, the economy of scale is working. For instance, manure and other farm residues
can be used as fertilizer when planting crops. This system is suitable for a small-scale farmer,
letting him make best use of his limited field area. In practice, the system is widely used in
the central area of Thailand, where there are a plenty of water resources.
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2) Organic Farming
Organic farming is a farming system that uses only organic fertilizer and herb-based
insect-control compound. The reasons of practicing organic farming are a higher demand for
organic food and demand for improving soil quality and underground water quality. Until
recently, organic rice and vegetables had been sold only in Bangkok and other major cities. Yet,
the market of organic food is now increasingly expanding.
3) Natural Farming
Natural farming's concept is no tillage, no application of fertilizer, herbicide and
insecticide. For the ecological preservation aspect, we can say that natural farming is
ultimate sustainable agriculture practice. At the present, there is nowhere perfectly
practicing the natural farming system in Thailand. Yet, a few natural farming cases can be
seen in the Northeastern area.
4) Agroforestry
Agroforestry is an idea to put agriculture and afforestation together, that is, to plant
cash crops or raise livestock while planting trees in the same area. Its objectives are not only
to increase farmers' income, but also to decrease deforestation induced by agricultural area
expansion. Besides, it also helps improve the soil quality and biodiversity. Agroforestry is
conducted in the Northern and Southern areas.
5) New Theory Farming
New Theory farming is an agricultural system proposed by His Majesty the King
Bhumiphol Adulyadej in 1993. Its basic concept is self-sufficiency. Crop selling is a next step
after attaining self-sufficiency. The concept is most appropriate to the farmers that have
limited small field and lack water resources. The next chapter explores the practice of the
New Theory farming system in the Northeastern Thailand.