Authors : Ratchada Ruangsarakul, Viyouth Chamruspanth and Keeratiporn Jutaviriya
Abstract: The implementation of an organic rice production policy requires the cooperation of all organizations involved, namely governmental, private sector and farmer’s organizations. This study, employing qualitative methods was conducted in Khuan Khanun District, Phatthalung Province, Southern Region of Thailand. The results show that the policy was basically initiated by the central administration of the government, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) and then sent to the provincial administration where the policy was transformed into several projects under the annual provincial development plan. These projects would be carried out by the agencies concerned at the district level, mainly the ones under the command of MOAC. To put the planned projects into action, moving towards the determined goals in the targeted areas, organizational cooperation was really needed. A private company was subcontracted to perform a specific function: farming plots inspection. Farmer’s organizations were founded to play a significant role in achieving the organic rice production policy goal. The research results also, reveal that at least three forms of social capital were used by farmer’s organizations and also by the farmers themselves in the process of organic rice production: collaborative action among group members, application of local wisdom and networking formation.
Ratchada Ruangsarakul, Viyouth Chamruspanth and Keeratiporn Jutaviriya, 2019. The Inter-Organizational Cooperation in the Implementation of Organic Rice Production Policy in the Southern Region of Thailand. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 14: 8408-8414.