# Fine-Scale (10 m) Dynamics of Smallholder Farming through COVID-19 in Eastern Thailand
## 4 Discussion
### Impact of COVID-19 and Other Factors on Crop Choice  
The COVID-19 pandemic markedly disrupted both international and domestic tourism, primarily attributed to stringent travel restrictions. These limitations extended beyond affecting traditional tourists; in Thailand, they also impacted migrant workers who found themselves unable to traverse borders or even move between provinces. For instance, in Chanthaburi, a directive was issued prohibiting the entry of migrant workers from other provinces, necessitating authorization for agricultural workers to move within the region [51]. Given the essential role played in the Thai agricultural economy by migrant laborers, who constitute a substantial portion of the sector's workforce [52], many farmers were compelled to pivot away from or suspend activities related to labor-intensive crops (e.g., rubber and durian). Instead, there was a discernible shift towards cultivating less labor-intensive crops, such as mangosteen and pineapple. This adjustment in agricultural practices may elucidate the observed marginal decline in rubber and durian production in the year 2020. However, financial gain (e.g., crop market price) emerged as a pivotal factor influencing farmers' decisions regarding crop cultivation. An illustrative instance is the surge in durian cultivation. The export of Thai durians has witnessed a significant upswing in recent years, primarily driven by the burgeoning demand from China. While the industry initially grappled with a shortage of labor and supplies during the pandemic, it swiftly adapted. Notably, some individuals, under the misconception that durian contains sulfur and can help prevent COVID-19 [53], increased their consumption of the fruit from Thailand. To counter the challenge of losing intermediaries or distributors due to border closures and travel restrictions, along with the associated disruption in business connections with customers, many Thai farmers have embraced online sales channels. They leveraged established platforms such as Alibaba(c), eBay(c), or their own online stores [13; 54]. The success of e-commerce, shifting away from traditional wholesale markets, has not only mitigated the negative impact of the pandemic but has also substantially elevated durian sales to unprecedented levels [55]. This success aligns with our findings of the rapid expansion of durian cultivation in Eastern Thailand. In contrast, crops like rice and oil palm, traditionally dominant in the region, have experienced a noticeable decline in cultivation over the years. Rice prices dropped from over $600 U.S. dollars per metric ton in 2011 to $400 in 2019, and palm oil prices exhibited an even more dramatic decline from over $1100 per metric ton in 2011 to $500 in 2019, according to Federal Reserve Economic Data [56]. These trends mirror the changes in cultivation acreage observed in this study, where rice farmlands decreased by 10%, and nearly 70% of oil palm farmlands vanished (Figure 9). Meanwhile, the lucrative financial returns offered by crops like durian have further fueled this shift in cultivation. However, Thai farmers now face stiff competition from their international counterparts in Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines, with durian prices unexpectedly plunging to a low level in 2023 [57]. This trend may affect future cultivation patterns. Climate change plays a crucial role in agriculture, and Thailand has witnessed a notable rise in temperatures over the last four decades, with the mean temperature escalating by 0.95 \({}^{\circ}\)C between 1955 and 2009 [58]. Specifically, during the 2019/2020 season, an abnormally brief monsoon period and a 15% reduction in annual rainfall triggered a severe drought in the country [49], resulting in substantial crop yield losses. To address this, the Thai government implemented restrictions on rice irrigation [59]. Our findings underscore the impact of these climate challenges, revealing a 16.12% decrease in rice cultivation between 2019 and 2020.