IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2018) 9-1

Research articleerd

A Model in Promoting Highland Terrace Paddy Cultivation
Technology in Northern Thailand
ALISA SAHAHIRUN*Suphanburi Provincial Agricultural Extension Office, Department of Agricultural Extension,
Suphanburi Province, Thailand
Email: alisa_hyori@hotmail.com

ROWENA DT. BACONGUISInstitute for Governance and Rural Development, College of Public Affairs and Development,
University of the Philippines Los Baños, Collage, Laguna, Philippines
Received 29 December 2017

Accepted 12 May 2018(*Corresponding Author)

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the adoption of Highland Terrace Paddy
Cultivation Technology (HTPCT) in Northern Thailand. HTPCT was promoted by the Rice
Department in 2003 in four provinces of Northern Thailand under the Royal Development
Project. Previous studies showed increased yields using HTPCT while cost of converting
sloping lands into terrace paddy can be recouped in a few years. However, despite thepromotion of the technology, adoption had not been widespread. To understand thelimitations in the adoption process, quantitative and qualitative research was conducted in 5villages of Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son provinces located in Doi Ompai Mountain.
Results show that overall the respondents had high level of adoption but for two practices,namely, soil fertilizer management and sequential cropping system and livestock production,
the respondents had moderate level of adoption. Further, the two production practices were
only partially practiced by the farmers. This means that even if the adopters converted their
upland rice areas to terrace paddy, they still used some traditional technologies and did not
follow all recommended HTPCT practices. The common problems mentioned by therespondents in practicing HTPCT were water and labor shortage, difficulty of land
preparation, lack of bio-pesticides and green manure seeds, familiarity with traditional
cultivation and their superstition which worked against widespread adoption. Thus, a modelin promoting HTPCT in Northern Thailand is proposed. The model takes into consideration
the necessary policies, roles of various stakeholders and joint learning among farmers,
extension workers and researchers in each step of HTPCT promotion.
Keywords adoption, agricultural extension model, highland, innovation, rice terraces

INTRODUCTION
The mountainous regions distinguish themselves from other regions by complex ecologicalinteractions that result to a high variability of land use and production processes (CGIAR ScienceCouncil, 2006). Mountain people are typically independent, innovative, resourceful and adaptive;
but also identified as poorest, most remote and disadvantaged people in the world (Ives, 1997;
Huddleston et al., 2003). In Thailand, mountainous landscape is found in the northern part of thecountry which share borders with Myanmar and Lao PDR. Northern Thailand covers an area of 17
million hectares comprising 33 percent of the Kingdom’s total land area of 51 million hectares.
Agricultural practices in the highland are rainfed, characterized by shifting cultivation andsubsistence production of specific crops such as rice, maize, and sesame (Mikled et al., 2001).
Agricultural production in hilly areas is low and unstable due to erratic rainfall and poor natural
resource endowment. Land degradation is one of the key problems causing decline in crop
productivity. One potential strategy to address those problems is to promote terraced paddy fields
in the hilly areas. Terraced paddy yields have been found to be almost double those of upland rice,and the cost of converting sloping lands into terrace paddy can be recouped in a few years (LinquistⒸ ISERD

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et al., 2007). While terrace paddy cultivation in upland areas had been in existence for centuries,
this system was introduced and promoted in Northern Thailand only in 2003 under the Royal
Development Project (Naruebal, 2011). The Highland Terrace Paddy Cultivation Technology(HTPCT) was promoted by the Rice Department in Doi Ompai mountain areas since 2003.
Currently, there are 48 farmers adopting this technology but there are many more who have notadopted the technology. Because of this, there is a need to investigate why there is low adoption
and subsequently, propose a model in promoting HTPCT to farmers in the highlands.
OBJECTIVESThis study aimed to investigate the practices of Highland Terrace Paddy Cultivation Technology(HTPCT) that were adopted, the problems related to the adoption, and propose a model inpromoting HTPCT.
METHODOLOGY
Study Sites
The researchers chose Doi-Ompai mountain areas as the site of the study because this is the firstplace in Thailand that Highland Terrace Paddy Cultivation Technology (HTPCT) was promoted tofarmers by the Rice Department. Four villages of Huai Hom sub-district, Mae La Noi district, MaeHong Son province and one village of Pang Hin Fon sub-districts, Mae Cham district, Chiang Maiprovince, which are the working area of Doi-Ompai Highland Agricultural Development Station(DOHAD station) were chosen as shown in Table 1. The farm lots and residences of therespondents are situated within the elevation range of 728 meters asl and of 1,465 meters asl. Thesite has a semi-humid tropical climate with a mean annual rainfall of 1,217.25 millimeters and amean temperature of 27.18 degree Celsius. Figure 1 shows the study sites.

Fig. 1 Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son Provinces highlighting the research district location
Source: LDD (2014)

Research DesignSurvey research was employed to determine the respondent’s adopted practices and level ofadoption of HTPCT while secondary data review, key informant interviews (KIIs) and Focus
Group Discussion (FGDs) were used to gather data about the agencies involved in HTPCT.

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Population and Sampling
Stratified random sampling was employed to determine the sample size used for this study. Therewere 181 households form the 5 villages which are the working areas of the Doi-Ompai highland
agricultural development station project, Mae Chaem district, Chiang Mai province, Thailand . All
farmers from the 5 villages were separated into adopters and non-adopters groups based on theinformation from the Rice Department. To determine the number of samples for adopters fromeach village, a stratified sampling technique was used according to the formula given by Sukhatme(1954) as in Eq. (1) with 10 percent margin of error. Table 1 shows the sample size of the study.
NQ(1)

N=2

PC (N-1) + Q
Where: n = sample size
N = population size
P = population of farmers who adopted terrace paddy
cultivation technology
C = 10%Q = 1-P
Table 1 Sample size of adopters
Name of village

Name ofsub-district

Number ofhouseholds

Number ofadopters

Sample size ofadopters

Baan Sadosa
Baan Sam
Baan La-Ang Tai
Baan Pak Pai
Baan Mae-LaePang Hin Fon
Huai Hom
Huai Hom
Huai Hom
Huai Hom

603872947181

1210361748

87241233

Source: DNP (2013) and RD (2013)

Highland Terrace Paddy Cultivation Technology (HTPCT) represents the recommended
technologies rice paddy cultivation. It combines indigenous and research based knowledge. Basedon survey results, on the basis of the weighted mean ratings of each of the seven recommended
HTPTC practices, the respondents had high levels of adoption of five practices, namely, land
preparation, seeding and transplanting, pest management, water management, and pre-production
practices, while the respondents had moderate level of adoption for two practices, namely, soil
fertilizer management and sequential cropping system and livestock. This shows that these two
agricultural practices were only partially practiced by the farmers (Table 2).
For the overall adoption or use of recommended HTPCT practices, the weighted mean scores
were computed and categorized into three levels which are high, moderate and low levels ofadoption. The results showed that the overall adoption of recommended HTPCT practices of theadopters had a mean of 2.37 described as high level of adoption which ranged from 1.94-2.75(Table 2). Majority of the adopters (60.6%) were described as practicing high level of adoption
while the rest (39.4%) were described as practicing moderate level of adoption which means thateven if the adopters converted their upland rice areas to terrace paddy, they still used sometraditional technologies and did not follow all recommended HTPCT practices. The fact is thatmost farmers are unable to adopt the whole package of HTPCT at once but, rather, they adopt someof the technology components in a sequential or step-wise manner depending on the agroecological characteristics of their terrace paddy field, their knowledge and understanding on thetechnology and their cultural beliefs. The common problems mentioned by the adopters in adopting
HTPCT were water and labor shortage, difficulty in paddy preparation, lack of bio-pesticides andgreen manure, familiarity with traditional cultivation and their superstition.
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Table 2 Rank based on the mean weight of the respondents’ adoption level of seven issuesof recommended HTPTC practices
HTPTC Practices

MeanRank

S.D.

Land preparation
Seeding and transplanting
Pest management
Water management
Pre-production
Soil fertility management
Sequential cropping system and livestock
Overall Mean
S.D.
Range

2.48 (HA)
2.45 (HA)
2.42 (HA)
2.42 (HA)
2.40 (HA)
2.15 (MA)1.73 (MA)123
3567
2.37 (HA)
0.22
1.94 - 2.75

0.26
0.51
0.51
0.60
0.29
1.00
0.98

Legend:Scale Limits
2.34 – 3.00
1.67 – 2.33
1.00 - 1.66

Descriptive RatingHigh level of adoption (HA)
Moderate level of adoption (MA)Low level of adoption (LA)A model to improve adoption of HTPCT is proposed (Fig. 2). The model takes inspirationfrom Rivera et al (2006).
Policies affecting HTPCT and relevant agencies: Based on KIIs, policies affecting HTPCT are
those that promote food security, conserve the forests and promote tourism. These policies promoteand facilitate the creation, sharing, and use of HTPCT. These policies have to be in place andshould be enforced. The model shows relevant agencies who are working together under the royal
project to promote HTPCT. The model outlines the key roles that each of the agencies have toperform in the promotion of HTPCT.
Step 1: Community analysis: The conduct of the community analysis is necessary to understandthe biophysical characteristics, resource endowments, farmer characteristics, practices andnetworks. These are necessary to determine the support that will be given to farmers.
Step 2: HTPCT development and promotion: The royal project stations would serve as learning
hubs for farmers, extension workers and researchers. Farmers who volunteer to conduct
experiments in their own field will introduce HTPCT to other farmers.
Step 3: Provision of extension and knowledge support: Even though terrace paddy is located in
the upstream areas, farmers often encounter water scarcity because they depend mainly on rainfall
and do not have good irrigation systems or water storage systems. It is thus important to include
technology on constructing small reservoirs or setting gravity irrigation system by providing pipes
and other necessary equipment. The government might consider wage subsidies to pay labor wages
in converting terraces as the task is very labor intensive and is one of the deterrents in the adoption
process. Given moderate adoption, it is important to enhance knowledge in seed selection,transplanting method and pest management. Agricultural extension workers could use thehandbook of HTPCT as a guideline and adapt the topics based on farmer’s needs.
Step 4: Participation in environmental conservation: Based on KIIs, farmers should have better
quality, security of life conditions and ability to protect the environment. People in the highlands
must first meet their basic needs through increased yield. The next goal is the enhancement of thesecurity of life by ensuring enough income. The last step of development is creating ideology inenvironmental conservation. When people have better quality and security of life, they are ready toprotect their environment and work for community voluntarily.
Outputs and outcomes: The expected outputs from promoting HTPCT are increased terrace paddy
areas and increased reforestation areas. The expansion of new terrace paddy areas which is the first
expected output offers opportunities to improve rice security in Northern Thailand. When farmershave enough rice for their household consumption, they tend to reduce shifting cultivation areas
and lead to increased reforestation areas. Both expected outputs would contribute to sustainabilityof highlands development in terms of rice security, environmental sustainability and sufficiency
income which are the outcomes of promoting HTPCT.
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Step 2

Step 4
Step 3

HTPCT
development alongwith thepromotion

Step 1
Community analysis- Conduct ofresearch inthe researchstation- Conduct ofon-farmresearch

Biophysicalcharacteristics- Land suitability- Water resource
adequacy
Farmer characteristics- Household size and thenumber of family
member engaged infarming
Support systems- Access to information
about farming practice- Attendances intraining/demonstration

Rice
Department

Extension supportsystem- Preparing catchment
area & water system- Providing wage forconverting area to be
terraces- Provision of farm
inputs such as riceseeds, seeds of green
manure, Vetiver
Grass etc.
Knowledge based- Training &workshop- Farm demonstration

Output- Increased- Reforestation
activity- Constructionof check dam
and fire breaks

terrace
paddy areas- Increased
reforestation
areas
OutcomeLocal
government
offices- Rice security- Environmental
sustainability- Sufficiency
incomeLand
Development
Department

Agricultural
Extension
Department

Irrigation
Department

Forestry
Department

Policies toachieve
food security

Stimulating
participationinenvironmental
conservation

Provision ofextension supportand knowledge based

Policies toconserve
the forest

Policies promoting
tourism

Fig. 2 Proposed model in promoting HTPCTCONCLUSION
Based on the results of the study, there are very few adopters of HTPCT and those that adopted
HTPCT do not fully adopt the recommended practices. The common reasons given by the adopters
are water shortage, labor shortage, the difficulty of soil preparation, lack of the source of the biopesticides and green manure seeds, familiarity with traditional cultivation and their superstitions.
The study presupposes that improvements in the adoption and diffusion of HTPCT can still be
improved through the model that had been proposed.
RECOMMENTDATIONS
To the Agricultural Institutions Involved in Promoting HTPCT.
1. Maintain a close link with all involved agencies: In the process of promoting HTPCT,
integrated work is needed. The Doi-Ompai Highland Agricultural Development Station can be usedas the center of assembly. The meeting among all involved agencies should be held regularly to setⒸ ISERD

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the plan for promoting HTPCT and also to discuss the solutions when the problem or constants
have been found in field works.
2. Co-generate knowledge among farmers and researchers: Based on the results, the ethnic
groups have their own rice farming wisdom. For example, they have the way to maintain traditional
rice variety production for their consumption. The technology that corresponds with theirtraditional wisdom can be studied and may be useful in the context of highland production. Thus,in the process of research and development on HTPCT, researchers should study and collect thetraditional rice farming wisdom from farmers in the fields and combine it with scientific knowledge
to improve HTPCT.
3. Providing catchment areas for irrigation purposes: Water shortage may limit the adoption ofHTPCT. Thus, the Royal Irrigation Department should provide catchment areas to farmers byconstructing small reservoirs such as ponds or tanks for water storage.
4. Providing training course regarding specific areas of technology: Researchers of the RiceDepartment should provide a training course emphasizing specific topics to enhance skills offarmers in applying HTPCT; for example, System of Rice Intensification (SRI), Alternate Wettingand Drying (AWD) technique, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) etc.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors acknowledge the research grant provided by the German Academic Exchange Service(DAAD) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture(SEARCA) that sponsored the conduct of this research. Special thanks to Mr. Ketsada Bunart, theDirector of the Doi-Ompai Highland Agricultural Development Station and Mr. Niphon Boonmee,a researcher from Rice Department for their support to the authors. Last but not the least, theauthors also acknowledge the cooperation of all farmers.
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