Para Rubber Agriculturists and Refl exivity in Social Relation Structure in Surat Thani Province

Abstract

        A research paper aims to investigate reflections of Para rubber agriculturalists toward regulations, resources, and production mode in Para rubber plantation. Qualitative research methodology,     specifically a case study approach, is adopted in the research. Observation and in-depth interview are applied as the research tools in order to collected field data. This paper attempts to explore social phenomenon based on an assumption that the Para rubber agriculturalists are individuals who are able to negotiate against regulations, resources, and production mode in Para rubber production chain.

       Research results found that Para rubber agriculturalists has reflected their thoughts toward several kinds of regulation including 1) natural regulation, for instance, the living of animals in Para rubber plantation, using the plantation as the watershed, plant growing in shady area and outside shady area, and the living of plants in Para rubber plantation. 2) Social regulation, for instance, gaining knowledge by participating training course, market demand, socioeconomic context around the plantation, regulations from Office of the Rubber Replanting Aid Fund, Government policy, and indigenous wisdom. In addition, several ways of adjustment in resource service using have caused new production mode in Para rubber plantation. New set of folk wisdom in rubber plantation has been introduced, for instance, creating multi agricultural activities within Para rubber plantation such as animal farming, vegetable plantation, and organic farming. These are new folk wisdom generated by agriculturalists that reflect to individual’s action which affects social relation structure.