Adaptation and coping ability of rice farmers regarding the saltwater intrusion along the upper area of sathing Phra Peninsula of Thailand

Pilaiwan Prapruit, Pornpimon Chuaduangpui and Chanisada Choosuk

Abstract: The upper area of Sathing Phra peninsula of Thailand has been affected every year by saltwater intrusion at > 1.5 grams/liter from Songkhla Lake, during April – June. Over 50% of the rice field area has been ruined by the intrusions. Recently, practices of the farmers to adapt to and cope with the saltwater intrusions into rice fields were assessed to be medium level effective. However, there were two adaptations rated at high levels. Those were “monitoring news on saltwater intrusions” and “supplementary careers instead of doing only rice farming”. The farmers’ guidelines to cope with the saltwater intrusions into rice fields were: 1) alternating rice farming system, 2) adjusting the government support policies, 3) changing rice varieties, 4)growing other crops in the rice fields after rice farming season, 5) raising animals along with rice farming, 6) creating supplementary incomes, and 7) grouping farmers. The guidelines that most farmers agreed to practice were: 1) growing rice varieties that met household consumption, 2) growing high-value rice varieties, and 3) growing some saltwater tolerant plants after the rice-farming season. Coping with the problem of saltwater intrusions was rated at a high level. The study found that growing rice varieties that met household consumption along with the promoted rice varieties was preferred by the farmers. The second highest ranked was growing rice according to policies for the management of rice economic zone and mixed farms. These are guidelines that could be managed at the household level to maintain independent farming in the affected areas.

Keywords: adaptation; coping ability; rice farmer; saltwater intrusion

Date published: 2023-02-23