The farming system of Mae Lu village in the Mae Chaem watershed: using the policy analysis matrix approach (PAM)

This research has analyzed the farming system of karen people at Ban Mae Lu, Mae Jaem District, Chiang Mai province. We evaluate the profit in economic aspects both in the level of producers and of general society, about 3 crops in 5 patterns of plantation; Shifting Cultivation and Land Rotation, Upland Rice, Paddy Rice, Rainfed Corn, and Rainfed Upland Soybeans in single plantation systems and mixed plantation systems in 9 patterns by using the Policy Analysis Matrix Approach (PAM) and the study of conditions and factors which are the social contexts. Those are the conservation policy and the capital marketing system that is wide spread into the community. From this research we found that the evaluation on economic aspects of crops, there are 3 models: firstly; Rainfed Upland Soybeans bring profit both levels of producers and social so it should be promoted in its plantation. secondly; shifting cultivation and Land Rotation, Upland Rice, and Rainfed Corn do not bring any profit neither for the producers nor social level that it should not be promoted to its planting except it can be improved the productivity and its price more better, and lastly; Paddy Rice has some private profit but it does not bring social profit because it effects the environment so the rice planting should be promoted altogether with the solving of environment problems. According to the evaluation of PAM ratios we found that there are 2 results: firstly; Upland Rice, Rainfed Corn and Rainfed Upland Soybean have negative private output profit. The government “taxed” them which made the price of the productivity too low or the input price is too high so the government should pass any policy strategy to solve this tax problem. Secondly, Upland Rice and Paddy Rice have positive private output profit. The government and social have subsidized so the output price is high or input price is low which is benefit for the villagers greatly. However, the farming systems of the villagers still relate to the natural resources management which is under the condition of conservation policy of the government too. That is; the policy occupied the shifting cultivation of the villagers to reforest and forbid them to do nothing with their old cultivation lands. It is such limitation to pressure them and greatly effect their sustainable subsistence and enough lands to rotate. They are under the confusing of property right and land management system of the state, private right holding and public holding. They effect the villagers ability to develop the rotational cultivation to sustainable one. It is clearly seen that the villagers change their rotational lands into permanent upland fields which has some effects on soil fertilization in upper lands. They divided the rotational lands to grow corns, soybeans, and any other cash crops which are taxed every years. We can say that the villagers are being under the marketing system, no power to negotiate any things so they changed their lands to orchards, developed the rotational lands to agro-forestry, but this issue has never been studied in this area before which may reflect the progressive capability of the villagers as well. We need to further study about it actually.

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