Problems and Appropriate Approaches to Implementing Organic Agriculture Policy in Thailand

Abstract

This qualitative research has 2 main objectives: To illustrate problems and obstacles of organic agriculture (henceforth, OA) policy implementation and to provide suggestions for a sustainable OA policy process development. The data were collected from both secondary and primary data by participatory observation, focus group discussion and in-depth interview. There were 40 informants from several related sectors (eg. policy makers, government officers, OA entrepreneurs, academicians and organic farmers). Collected data were analyzed by content analysis and descriptive statistics. There were several problems from public sectors, such as lack of holistic dimensions of policy formation, vague OA indicators, lack of connection between OA planning and its operations, lack of participation from stakeholders, interference of politics and culture in the planning and implementation of the projects. The suggestions were: reinvent innovation OA productive to process; control chemical substances usage; motivate converting to OA farmers; enhance the whole OA supply chain; support holistic and updated OA database; support OA public relations; strengthen consumers’ involvement; build a strong linkage at all level of stakeholders; apply information technology; establish OA farmers fund; and set up an acceptably concrete OA standard.