Dynamic Change and Mode of Production of Peasant Society in the Chee Basin Case Study: Ban Nongphue, Tambon Nong Bua, Amphoe Kosumphisai, Maha Sarakham Province

Abstract

     The purposes of this research were to explore the economic, social and cultural context of an ecosystem and the process of ecosystem change as well as the dynamic mode of production in a peasant society. The research methodology was qualitative research. The sampling size comprised five key informants and 45 farmers’ households in Ban Nongphue, which is located in northeastern Thailand. Ban Nongphue is situated on a large plain of 5,441 rai by the Chee River, consisting of 5,218 rai of agricultural area and 100 rai of residential area. This area usually suffers from floods in the rainy seasons. Most of the population are farmers growing rice twice a year; the first crop is called Na Pee and the second crop Na Prung. Their supplementary income is from selling vegetables. Their community is close knit and based on kinship. The villagers still practice traditions of the northeast or Isan way of life. The results of this research indicated that Ban Nonghue has gradually changed its mode of production. The changes can be seen in four distinct periods: 1) period of settlement and subsistence production, 2) period of change which followed a development trend, 3) period of commercial production and heavy investment, and 4) period from 2004 to present involving a sufficient and self-reliant economy. The dynamic of change and transformation of the farmer’s community in the Chee basin was caused by both external and internal factors. The model of adaptation has two patterns: 1) the former group adjusted via agriculture sectors but with emphasis on high technology and 2) the alternative group transformed itself and thus changed to produce organic agriculture and eventually became a community applying the self-sufficient economy concept.