Chao Phraya River BasinB. 1. Rural

1. Land Use

- describes how humans have decided to use the land.

Thailand

• Rural: 90% of Thailand’s total area is

- used for agriculture and forest including beaches and wilderness parkland.

• Urban: 10% of Thailand’s total area is used for cities including industrial lands and space used for transportation system as roads

Rural Agricultural Land

Until 1960’s

• an agricultural society

Causes of the Change:

1.Advancement in Technology

2.Economic Globalization

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1. Advanced Technology

Farmers need to learn a new and better ways to farm their land.

Use of scientific method to work the land

- farmers need to be more educated and regulated about how they use the land

- Farmers who learned to use science to produce higher crop yields, raised healthier livestock and develop new ways of farming

2. Economic Globalization

Farmers must produce crops that meet the standards of the food industry.

Chao Phraya River Basin

• Large rice paddies are spread across the Chao Phraya river basin (Central Plain).

• Crops like rice, grains and rubber are shipped to markets by boat, rail and transport trucks.

Thailand’s Success in Agriculture:

Reasons:

1.Excellent Climate

2.Long growing season

3.Large expanses of flat lands

4.Rich soil

5.Thai people apply science to business of producing food

- Thailand’s crop production is a source of international trade.

Thailand’s IssuesThat are important to the success

in farming

I. WATER CONSERVATION

Water is the single most important challenge that faces agriculture in Thailand.

4 Areas of importance:

1.Water Quantity

2.Water Management

3.Flood Control

4.Water Quality and Sustainability

1. Water Quantity

THAILAND

• When water is managed properly:

- Increase crop yields

• When water is mismanaged:

- disaster in farming

- bad for Thai economy

Water Management:Manage trees!

•Roots (from trees) hold soil•Conserve ground water•Maintain water balance in the natural environment

• Over time, more and more forest cover has been taken over for agriculture.

• Forest near larger cities , farmland has been taken over for housing developments and industry.

In 1840, 95% of the district was covered in native vegetation; this figure is now 15%, most of which is in the Kaimai ranges. (New Zealand)

This will result to serious problems:Removal of trees:

1.Soil erosion: soil can be washed away by the rain soil can be blown away by the wind

2. Farmland converted to roads, industrial and residential areas can no longer be used in producing food

2. Water Management

1. Monitor water quantity

2. Create wells (underground water can be pumped to the surface for crop use.)

3. Construct irrigation system to farms

4. The use of canals, open and covered drainage ditches, above ground tubing system, levees and sprinkler systems

Irrigation System

Open and covered drainage

Sprinkler System Levee (dike)

3. Flood Control

• - farmers plant low plants or ground cover on the fields that they are not using and along irrigation ditches and slopes so that soil will not be washed away during heavy rain or flooding

4. Water Quality and Sustainability

• - farmers know how to protect water resources.

- control chemicals that pollute the soil and damage quality of water.

Causes of water pollution in farm areas

1. Runoff of soil and fertilizer

• Farm animal manure are major source of nitrate that pollutes ground water

2. PRESERVATION OF FARMLAND

• Government agencies monitor (check) and set limits for land use in Chao Phraya basin.

- the land cannot be used in other purposes except farming

- farmers are taught how to protect the soil from pollution and erosion

- foreigners cannot own rich farmland

3. QUALITY OF LIFE IN RURAL AREAS

People in Thailand do not pay high prices for their food when compared to other countries in the world.

There are many government projects that provide equal opportunities for Thais living in both rural and urban areas leading to an improved quality of life for people living in the rural areas.

- increased access to education, better medical care and improved sanitation

Some Issues

1. The economics of farming causes inequality in the standard of living

2. Some Thai agricultural products bring high prices in international markets but sometimes the middle men/overseas brokers get a greater share of the profit

3. People who live and work in the rural areas earn a lower salary than people who live and work in the cities.

4. Farmers are poor; some people in the rural areas want to move to big cities like Bangkok making the city overpopulated.

5. This will result to social problems like unemployment, lack of housing, increase costs for government services, tension in society which often result to increase crime rates.