ABSTRACT
In many developing countries in Asia, including Thailand, the discussion on the circular economy has yet to gain momentum. In Thailand, the guiding principle for national development, the philosophy of the Sufficiency Economy, shares many similarities with that of the circular economy. This chapter looks at the recent emergence of organic farming in Thailand as an opportunity for people to adopt a Sufficiency Economy and contribute to the shift of the agricultural sector to the circular economy. It analyses the case of D Village, a peri-urban village in Northeast Thailand, where organic farming and application of Sufficiency Economy principles are actively practiced by villagers. The analysis of three different village farming groups reveals that not only changing lifestyle patterns and livelihoods have a strong influence on the different attitudes towards organic farming practices and the Sufficiency Economy, but also socio-economic factors such as access to the labour market and land ownership. One group of farmers pursues organic farming as a way of stabilising their livelihood. The majority group of farmers simply reduced the chemical inputs to continue farming with minimum costs, while their younger family members work outside of the village. However, some farmers continue to farm using agro-chemicals and cast doubt on the effectiveness of organic methods. This case illustrates the multi-layered nature of the pathways for sustainable lifestyles and rural livelihoods, reflecting the concerns and aspirations of farmers to maintain their living going into the future. It also shows that the different attitudes and the contesting ideas about sustainable living are not entirely incompatible, and that people adjust to different options when necessary.
