World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Environmental and Ecological Engineering Vol:8, No:4, 2014 The Existence of Field Corn Networks on the Thailand-Burma Border under the Patron-Client Contract Farming System Kettawa Boonprakarn, Jedsarid Sangkaphan, Bejapornd Deekhuntod, Nuntharat Suriyo after deduction of the costs of production [2]. In this Abstract—This study aimed to investigate the existence of field relationship, farmers are usually the underdogs, and the corn networks on the Thailand-Burma border under the patron-client government sector does not check whether the agreement contract farming system. The data of this qualitative study were signed between the farmers and the company is fair or not. collected through in-depth interviews with nine key informants. Moreover, the government plays no role to give farmers The results of the study revealed that the existence of the field corn networks was associated with the relationship where farmers negotiation power or to make alterations in the agreement to had to share their crops with protectors in the areas under the make it fair to the farmers [3]. influence of the KNU (Karen National Union) and the DKBA While the agriculture sector in the Mae Sot border area is (Democratic Karen Buddhist Army) or Burmese soldiers. A Mae found to have field corn planted after rice is harvested, field Liang, the person who starts a network has a connection with a corn farming is done as contract farming [4]. However, going Thaokae, Luk Rai Hua Chai or the head of a group of farmers, and out to the field to collect data, we found that the field corn farmers. They are under the patron-client system with trust and loyalty that enable the head of the group and the farmers in the networking is not as described in the general information of Burma border side to remain under the same Mae Liang even though Mae Sot District. Instead, the networking has long existed and the business has been passed down to later generations. the networks offer mutual benefits under the patron-client system with the Mae Liang and the Luk Rai Hua Chai or the Keywords—Existence, field-corn networks, patron-client system, head of the farmer group in Thailand, and the farmers in contract farming. Burma. This phenomenon prompted the researchers with a question about the existence of the field corn networks under I. INTRODUCTION the patron-client contract farming system. In addition, the ONTRACT farming is agricultural cooperation between researchers desired to obtain data to use as a guideline for C Thailand and Burma that results in people moving from strengthening the networks so that farmers will not be Burma and some of them migrate to Thailand. Contract exploited because of contract farming. Moreover, the data can farming has been conducted according to strategic cooperation be used as a guideline for related organizations to play a role of ACMECS (Aeyawadee-Chaopraya-Mekong Economic and take action in altering the agreement to make it fair for Cooperation) to move the investment base for planting target cross-national workers. crops from Thailand to Burma consisting of 10 important A. Aims economic crops including corn. This is because Thailand’s crop production cannot meet the demand in the country while Investigate the existence of the field corn network under the a great deal of labor is needed for harvesting crops. The need patron-client contract farming system. for corn corresponds with the needs of the private sector to use it as a factor of production to produce value-added products II. METHODOLOGY [1]. The data for this quality research were collected from in- Contract farming takes place when farmers do business with depth interviews with nine key informants, namely, Thaokae, a company and bring in the factor of production, and the Mae Liang, Luk Rai Hua Chai or heads of groups of farmers, company buys the crops back. However, it is found that at the and farmers who were cross-national workers. The data were end of the production process, farmers are found with debts classified into categories according to the objectives, put in the International Science Index, Environmental and Ecological Engineering Vol:8, No:4, 2014 waset.org/Publication/9998047 order of their relationships, and the order of data connections. A part from research entitled “Flowers of the Dawn”: Negotiated Space of Then the data were analyzed, interpreted, concluded, and Transnational Laborers and the Economic of the Thai-Burmese Borderland. presented using the analytical description method. Asst. Prof. Dr. K. Boonprakarn is with the Faculty of Liberal Arts, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province 90110 Thailand (phone: 0-7428-6722; fax: 0-7428-6722; e-mail: [email protected]). III. FINDINGS J. Sangkaphan is with the Researcher, Graduate School, Hatyai University, The existence of the field corn networks under the patron- Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province 90110 Thailand (phone: 0-7420-0357; e- mail: [email protected]). client contract farming system was divided into two aspects: B. Deekunthod is Freelance researcher, 15/39 Gardenthome village Phaholyotin Road, Kukot Tambon,Pathumtanee Province, Thailand. A. The Existence of the Field Corn Networks N. Suriyo is a Freelance researcher, 75/14 Tung Ree, Tambo Kho Hong, Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province, 90110 Thailand. 1. The Existence of the Field Corn Networks is Amidst International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 8(4) 2014 379 scholar.waset.org/1307-6892/9998047 World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Environmental and Ecological Engineering Vol:8, No:4, 2014 Areas under Influence of Protectors. Thoakae farmers DKBA farmers During 1989-1990, the agricultural areas for field corn plantations were expanded from Thailand to Burma making Luk Rai Hua the business in corn plantations in Burma more intensive as it Luk Rai Hua Chai IV Luk Rai Hua Chai II was during the time that “the situation was still good as there Mae Liang were only two groups of protectors: The Burmese soldiers, Burmese and the KNU (Karen National Union)”. No Pho who turned Luk Rai Hua Chai V herself to be a Mae Liang said that she bought a piece of land Luk Rai Hua Chai III in Burma adjacent to Umphang District of Thailand from farmers villagers who had farmed corn there at 60,000 Baht per Rai farmers farmers (this plot of land was with an area of approximately 80 Rai). KNU That area is in a zone protected by KNU but people can buy Burma Thailand land in the area and use it to make their living [5]. Actually it can be bought by anyone of any nationality “as long as they Fig. 1 Field Corn Networks on the Thailand-Burma Border have money”. When buying it, they receive a paper of land ownership for making a living and the paper is called “a B. The Patron-Client Contract Farming System in Mae Sot Area of the Thailand-Burma Border Has Two Important certificate for making a living”, not to possess and not to pass Features down as heritage. [6] However, this land is seized by Burmese soldiers or the DKBA (Democratic Karen Buddhist Army). 1. The Patron-Client Contract Farming System of the The owner of land can sell it to villagers who are “Heart Agreement” acquaintances with the group of new protectors to use for their The patron-client system under the “Heart Agreement” living [7]. relationship is a system that involves an agreement between 2. The Existence Amidst Relationships with Mutual Benefit Thaokae who is the capitalist and Mae Liang, and between Mae Liang and Luk Rai Hua Chai or the head of the group of In field corn farming, Mae Liang contacts Thaokae who is a farmers, and farmers. It is a “Heart Agreement” with mutual capitalist that takes the factor of production and capital to benefits and it is not exploitation of workers. Good heads of groups of farmers in Burma and in Thailand (see Fig. relationships between Maeliang and the head of the group of 1). There are many groups of farmers. The most popular farmers and farmers can become better and it will benefit variety of corn is called Breed 95 because it takes only 115 Thokae in terms of high yields of crops with consistency. days from germination of corn plant to harvest. Ears of corn There are many Thaokaes who buy corn in Mae Sot such as are harvested and sold as whole; kernels are kept on the cop. Srirungrueang family and Thaokae Thong. After the head of Thus, there are no needs for storage buildings. Nevertheless, the group of farmers sells the crop, he can change to another selection of seeds for growing in each area depends on the Thaokae as there is no obligation. However, in practice, no political situation and the weather in the respective year. After one does it because they feel courteous to the Thaokae and harvesting, the heads of the groups gather the crops produced they have known each other for a long time [5], [11]. by farmers in their groups and send them to Mae Liangs in Thailand. After the costs are deducted, the money is taken 2. The Patron-Client System is Passed down from back to farmers in Burma. The steps are: 1) gathering the crop Generation to Generation under Loyalty from each farmer and counting the number of Po or Pip, a When Mae Liang dies, her children or grandchildren rectangular can with a capacity of 20 liters used for measuring continue doing the business as capitalists for the same groups the crop. The number of cans is related with the money the of heads of the groups and farmers that have worked together farmer gets and “the tax” that the farmer has to pay “the for a long time.