1. Agricultural development in Thailand since 1960 has facilitated the country’s
transformation into an urbanised economy based around manufacturing. There have
been two phases: rapid agricultural growth based on utilisation of underused land and
labour; and, as Thai farming began to shed land and labour, slower but continued
growth through higher productivity.
2. Rural poverty has fallen from more than 60% in the early 1960s to barely more than
10% in the new century. Food prices have halved, and hunger and child malnutrition
have reduced greatly.
3. Much has been achieved through private initiative, including a successful agribusiness
sector. Despite political turbulences in Thailand, the state has played an essential role
in setting the investment climate and investing in education, roads and research, as
well as supporting agricultural credit to small farmers.
Thailand’s progress in
agriculture:
Development Progress stories
T