รูปแบบการพัฒนาเกษตรกรผู้ปลูกข้าวเพื่อเพิ่มผลผลิตในช่วงภัยแล้ง ของบ้านท่าช้าง ตำบลแม่วะ อำเภอเถิน จังหวัดลำปาง

                     The study entitled “A Model for the Development of Rice Farmers to Increase Productivity during the Drought of Ban Tha Chang Community, Mae Wa Subdistrict, Thoen District, Lampang Province” consisted of three objectives: 1) to investigate the farming conditions of rice farmers at Ban Tha Chang Community, Mae Wa Subdistrict, Thoen District, Lampang Province; 2) to explore the processes of developing rice farmers to increase productivity during the drought of Ban Tha Chang Community, Mae Wa Subdistrict, Thoen District, Lampang Province; and 3) to present a model for the development of rice farmers to increase productivity during the drought of Ban Tha Chang Community, Mae Wa Subdistrict, Thoen District, Lampang Province. The study applied a qualitative research method. The key informants included 12 government and private officials, community leaders, and farmers. The data were collected through in-depth interviews. The obtained data were analyzed to acquire a model for the development of rice farmers to increase productivity during the drought of Ban Tha Chang Community, Mae Wa Subdistrict, Thoen District, Lampang Province.

From the study, the following results are found:

1) Based from the study, the farming conditions of rice farmers at Ban Tha Chang Community, Mae Wa Subdistrict, Thoen District, Lampang Province, found as follows: In terms of economics, climatic damage to agricultural products results in increased expenditures for water supplies, agricultural equipment, herbicides and pesticides, and biostimulants. All of this is a result of the drought, which has reduced output; In terms of society, the health issue caused by utilizing unequal water leads in a change in occupation or migration such that farmers are unable to farm; In terms of the environment and gardening, changes in soil structure caused by drought result in soil fertility loss, disease development in animals and plants, and groundwater depletion.

2) The processes of developing rice farmers to increase productivity during the drought of Ban Tha Chang Community, Mae Wa Subdistrict, Thoen District, Lampang Province consists of three as follows: (1) The process of passing on knowledge and local wisdom about farming through training, community activities, excursions, individual transfers, and the use of technology to impart knowledge about soil development by organic fertilizers; (2) The process of planning activities to promote farming through farmer participation and inclusion, acknowledgment of news and information on farmer development, including drought preparation; and (3) The process of developing a network to support farmers' factors of production by providing farming assistance, the restoration following a drought which involves participating in the area analysis, the training of farmers in the information and skills required to practice farming professionally, agricultural development in terms of academia or technology, seed preparation, inspection of mixed rice, and the use of organic fertilizer. All of this requires the government sectors taking care of and supporting farmers on a daily basis.

3) A model for the development of rice farmers to increase productivity during the drought of Ban Tha Chang Community, Mae Wa Subdistrict, Thoen District, Lampang Province consists of 4 ways as follows: (1) Rice planting in cement ponds, with each seedling around 1 palm or 2 palms apart, and 3-4 seedlings per hill. When the rice seedlings are planted, 2 inches of water should be provided, and water should be discontinued for 7 days when the seedling begins to produce grains and 7 days before harvest; (2) Rice planning in bags involves filling almost a bag full of soil in case the soil collapses, placing the selected three grains in each bag, and adding 10-15 cm of water; (3) Rice planting in tire wheels by utilizing plastic covers in tire wheels to retain water, filling 3 part of the tire wheel with soil, followed by filling water, and planting 5-8 seedlings in each tire wheel; and (4) Rice planting in pots, where the mouth of the pot is roughly 12 inches wide, consisted of 3 holes for planting in pots, with three seedlings placed in each hole.