Citation
Rigg J., . Homogeneity and heterogeneity : an analysis of the nature of variation in Northeastern Thailand. pp. 63-72. ISSN 0127-1474
Abstract
This brief paper has been written with two objectives in mind. Firstly to discuss the nature of variation in the Northeastern region of Thailand and secondly to investigate the reasons why such variation should arise and what purpose it serves. The first area of discussion centred upon the nature of rainfall in the area. It is rainfall which is the pre-eminent physical variable so far as rice cultivation is concerned. The fact that rainfall is seasonal has always been abundantly clear to those working in the Northeastern region. But the complexity of the variation in rainfall has not recieved a great deal of attention. And it is these other forms of variation - between years in months between years and between days and weeks - which are crucial to the farmer. Seasonality in itself does particularly tax the farmer's ingenuity. It is uncertainty within the seasonal rainfall regime which is the challenge. From the discussion of variation in rainfall there developed a brief survey of the response of farmers to that variation and particularly insofar as it relates to rice cultivation. Essentially farmers deal with variable rainfall and the marginality of the environment by creating a similarly diverse/variable portfolio of activities. These activities extend beyond agriculture and often beyond the village. However this is not to say that all villages are the same in the mix of activities that they embrace. There are a handful of core pursuits common to most households in the region. These might be viewed as traditional and 'inward-focused'. The exception is crash crop cultivation which is geared to the market. These activities are characterized by the wide dispersal of information and where environmental conditions allow most households to become involved. But at the same time there is also a surprising degree of village specialization. Sometimes this variation is clearly linked to the nature of the local environment. If a village is close to a water resource fishing and fish production is likely to develop. If a village is in close proximity to a source of salt or of clay the village may specialize in the production and sale of salt or of pottery
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Abstract
This brief paper has been written with two objectives in mind. Firstly to discuss the nature of variation in the Northeastern region of Thailand and secondly to investigate the reasons why such variation should arise and what purpose it serves. The first area of discussion centred upon the nature of rainfall in the area. It is rainfall which is the pre-eminent physical variable so far as rice cultivation is concerned. The fact that rainfall is seasonal has always been abundantly clear to those working in the Northeastern region. But the complexity of the variation in rainfall has not recieved a great deal of attention. And it is these other forms of variation - between years in months between years and between days and weeks - which are crucial to the farmer. Seasonality in itself does particularly tax the farmer's ingenuity. It is uncertainty within the seasonal rainfall regime which is the challenge. From the discussion of variation in rainfall there developed a brief survey of the response of farmers to that variation and particularly insofar as it relates to rice cultivation. Essentially farmers deal with variable rainfall and the marginality of the environment by creating a similarly diverse/variable portfolio of activities. These activities extend beyond agriculture and often beyond the village. However this is not to say that all villages are the same in the mix of activities that they embrace. There are a handful of core pursuits common to most households in the region. These might be viewed as traditional and 'inward-focused'. The exception is crash crop cultivation which is geared to the market. These activities are characterized by the wide dispersal of information and where environmental conditions allow most households to become involved. But at the same time there is also a surprising degree of village specialization. Sometimes this variation is clearly linked to the nature of the local environment. If a village is close to a water resource fishing and fish production is likely to develop. If a village is in close proximity to a source of salt or of clay the village may specialize in the production and sale of salt or of pottery
Additional Metadata
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | 25 ref. Summary (En) |
| AGROVOC Term: | TAILANDIA |
| AGROVOC Term: | PRECIPITACION ATMOSFERICA |
| AGROVOC Term: | SISTEMAS DE EXPLOTACION |
| Depositing User: | Ms. Norfaezah Khomsan |
| Last Modified: | 24 Apr 2025 05:56 |
| URI: | http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/20558 |
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