Protein Food Production in Thailand 9789814376167

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I5EA5 Institute of Southeast Asian Studies The Institute of Southeast Asian Studies was established as an autonomous organization in May 1968. It is a regional research centre for scholars and other specialists concerned with modern Southeast Asia. The Institute's research interest is focused on the many-faceted problems of development and modernization, and political and social change in Southeast Asia. The Institute is governed by a twenty-two-member Board of Trustees on which are representatives from the National University of Singapore, appointees from the government, as well as representatives from a broad range of professional and civic organizations and groups. A ten-man Executive Committee oversees day-to-day operations; it is chaired by the Director, the Institute's chief academic and administrative officer. The responsibility for facts and opinions expressed in this publication rests exclusively with the authors and their interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views or the policy of the Institute or its supporters.

PROTEIN FOOD PRODUCTION IN THAILAND An Evaluation of a Project in Two Lamphun Villages

by

Paiboon Suthasupa Viboon Rattanapanone Sompong Shevasunt

Research Notes and Discussions Paper No. 37 INSTITUTE OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN STUDIES 1982

Published by Institute of Southeast Asian Studies Heng Mui Keng Terrace Pasir Panjang Singapore 051 I AI I rights reserved. No part of this pub I ication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieva I system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. © 1982 Institute of Southeast Asian Studies

ISSN 0129-8828 ISBN 9971-902-55-9

CONTENTS

Page

LIST OF TABLES

vi

LIST OF FIGURES

ix

LIST OF MAPS

X

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

xi

I

INTRODUCTION Significance of the Problem

1

Protein Food Production for Consumption Project in Lamphun Villages

4

Research Objectives

6

Research Methodology

7

Collection of Data

7

Selection of Villages

8

Sample Size

8 iii

Page

II

Data Processing

9

Analysis of Data

9

BACKGROUND OF SOME DETERMINANTS OF FOOD HABITS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS IN THE SURVEY VILLAGES

12

Ecological Factors

12

Geography

12

Climate

17

Soil

18

Seasonality of Food

21

Structural Factors

23

Family Size

23

Education

23

Land Tenure System

28

Economic Factors

30

Income level and Distribution

30

Food Distribution and Transport

32

Food Production and Disposal of Food Processing and Storage iv

Crop~

39 45

Page Cultural Factors

47

Food Taboos and Beliefs

47

Feasting and Food Exchanges

51

Eating Patterns

III

IV

52

Snacks

52

Cooking Practices and Meal Patterns

53

Breast-feeding

53

Food Habits of Pregnant and Lactating Women

54

EVALUATION OF THE PROTEiN FOOD PRODUCTION FOR CONSUMPTION PROJECT

58

Family Income

58

Food Intake

60

Household Food Intake

60

Pre-school Children Food Intake

67

Incidence of Malnutrition

74

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

80

BIBLIOGRAPHY

87

APPENDICES

90 v

LIST OF TABLES

Page 1.

Annual Rainfall in the Last Ten Years, Lamphun Province

19

2.

Temperatures, Lamphun Province, 1970-77

20

3.

Type of Food Normally Consumed by Villagers -- Classified by Food Group

24

4.

Size of Family According to Farm Size

27

5.

Educational Level of Head of Household, by Age

29

6.

Tenure Status of Farmers

31

7.

Average Gross Cash Income per Household by Source for 1981

33

8.

Gross Cash Income by Farm Size

34

9.

Income Distribution of Land Owners, Tenants, and Salary or Wage Earners

35

Type of Buyers of Crops and Livestock

37

10.

vi

Page 11.

Form of Transportation

38

12.

Cultivated Area of Various Crops

40

13.

Disposal of Crops

42

14.

Trend of Food Production

44

15.

Number of Animals per Household in the Survey Villages

46

16.

Food Beliefs of Villagers

49

17.

Breast-feeding Patterns in the Survey Villages

55

18.

Age of Infant at First Supplementary Feeding

55

19.

Eating Habits of Pregnant Women

56

20.

Eating Habits of Lactating Women

56

21.

Per Capita Farm Income of Farm Households in the Programme and Control Villages

60

22.

Average Food Score of Farm Households by Villages (Food Consumption Record Method)

66

23.

Average Food Score of Farm Households by Villages (Food Frequency Interview Method)

67

24.

Average Food Score of Pre-school Children by Villages (Food Consumption Record Method)

70

25.

Average Food Score of Pre-school Children by Villages (Food Frequency Interview Method) vii

72

Page 26.

Incidence of PCM in Children 0-5 Years in the Three Villages in 1981

76

27.

Protein Intake of Farm Households by Villages

78

28.

Number of Farm Households Receiving Agricultural Inputs

78

29.

Number of Farm Households Giving Produce to the Child Nutrition Centre

79

viii

LIST OF FIGURES

Page 1.

Food Group Deficiency of Farm Households by Food Consumption Record Method

61

2.

Food Group Deficiency of Farm Households by Food Frequency Interview Method

62

3.

Average Daily Food Score of Farm Households by Food Consumption Record Method

64

4.

Average Daily Food Score of Farm Households by Food Frequency Interview Method

65

5.

Food Group Deficiency of Pre-school Children by a One-week Food Consumption Record Method

68

6.

Food Group Deficiency of Pre-school Children by Food Frequency Interview Method

69

7.

Average Daily Food Score of Pre-school Children by a One-week Food Consumption Record Method

71

8.

Average Daily Food Score of Pre-school Children by Food Frequency Interview Method

73

ix

LIST OF MAPS

Page 1.

Lamphun

14

2.

Chiang Mai Valley

15

3.

Tambon Pa Suk, Amphur Muang, Lamphun

16

X

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First of all my thanks are due to the farmers and housewives of the three vi 11 ages in Tambon Pa Suk, Amphur Muang, Lamphun for answering all of my questions without knowing the objectives of this study. Let the data speak for itself. To Professor K.S. Sandhu, Director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (!SEAS), Dr Narongchai, the former Co-ordinator of the ASEAN Economic Research Unit (AERU) at !SEAS, Dr H.C. Rieger, the present AERU Co-ordinator, Ms S.L. Pang, the Executive Secretary, and Mrs Maggie Ng, the Executive Officer of !SEAS, my deepest gratitude for the special interest given and for the necessary preparations made before and during my stay at the Institute. My colleagues at the Institute, especially,. Dr loong-Hoe Tan, Dr Pradumna Rana, Dr Chai-Anan Samudavanija, Mr Njoman Suwidjana, Mr Sukardjo, Dr Dow Mongkolsmai, and Dr Sharon Siddique, were particularly helpful in making valuable suggestions and editing the draft. However, what is left to the credit of the author are the remaining shortcomings. May 1981 Singapore

Paiboon Suthasupa xi

I

INTRODUCTION

Significance of the Problem Although Thailand is a food-exporting country, a significant sector of its population still suffers from malnutrition. The types of nutrition deficiency diseases generally found in Thailand are proteincalorie malnutrition (PCM), iron deficiency anaemia, urinary bladder stone, beriberi (vitamin 81 deficiency), goitre, riboflavin (vitamin 82) deficiency, and vitamin A deficiency. Among these seven categories, protein-calorie malnutrition is the most prevalent and occurs in all regions of the country. The other types of rna 1nutrition are not so serious in terms of the number of patients and the government budget allocation. Those most vulnerable to protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM) are infants and pre-school c/lildren because their physical and mental growth require more and better quality of food per unit of weight than those of other age groups: An insufficient amount of protein and calories in food has led to PCM, thereby making the victim susceptible to other diseases which may eventually 1ead to mental retardation or premature death. Two major causes of PCM in children are the lack of breast-feeding and insufficient supplementary food for infants and 1

The first cause occurs mostly in Bangkok children. slum areas where mothers lack knowledge of milk preparation, using the wrong type of milk or milk Insufficient proportions. incorrect in mixed supplementary food is often found to be the cause of P01 in infants after the weaning period in the rural areas. The breast-feeding period mostly practised by During this period of life, mothers is six months. the growth of the child is generally normal, but after weaning the growth rate slows down due to an inadequate amount of supplementary protein and calories in their food.l Children of pre-school age in Thailand constitute about 16 per cent of the total population, which was about 7 mi 11 ion in 1976. Out of these 7 million, 4.2 million or 63 per cent were suffering from PCM; 2 million had first degree malnutrition, 2 million second degree, and 200,000 third degree, which is the most severe form of PCM. Children who lack enthusiasm, lack suffer from malnutrition curiosity, have no vitality to perform, and have a low ability to learn. This can be widely observed in Thai rural areas. severity of the nutritional the Realizing problem, the Thai government approved the food and nutrition policy guidelines proposed by the Ministry The of Public Health as a national plan in 1970. National Food and Nutrition Committee is composed of a Sub-committee on Service for Mother and Child, a Sub-committee on Service for Pre-school Children, a and Research, a Subon Training Sub-committee

Dow Mongkolsmai et al., Trends in Malnutrition in Thailand, A Report prepared for USAID/ Thailand, Thai University Research Association: Research Report No.1, Bangkok, 1979. 2

coiJJllittee on Food Production and Distribution, the Institute of Nutrition, the Institute of Food Research and Product Development, and a Pro vi nci al Committee on Food and tJutri ti on. It can be seen that Food Production and Distribution, in other words, Food Production for Consumption, is an integral part of the National Food and Nutrition Plan. The Department of Agricultural Extension of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has a direct role in the Food Production for Consumption Project which is expected to cover 29 provinces. Specifically, the objectives of the Project are: 1.

to produce low-cost community consumption,

protein

foods

for

2.

to increase the rea 1 income of 1ow-income fdmilies and,

3.

to enable farroers to mobilize groups to develop a better living by the use of locally available resources, thereby improving their nutritional status.

However, setting up national plans and progranrnes on food and nutrition and carrying them out may not entirely solve nutritional problems without any follow-up and continuous evaluation. As Dow Monkolsmai has put it:2 Nutrition programmes in the third and fourth Development Plans have not been separately evaluated but included with other programmes in the plans. Moreover, research of studies to evaluate various

2

I b i d . , p . 48 .

3

government food and nutrition programmes have not been extensively carried out. Thus, this study is to evaluate such programmes, especially protein food production for consumption at the vi 11 age 1eve 1 in Lamphun, with a view to improving the effectivene ss of such programmes in the future.

Protein Food Production for Consumption Project in Lamphun Villages The objectives of this Project are to promote local production of protein-rich and other nutritious foods and to educate the farm family in food and nutrition, especially the housewives, and pregnant and lactating women. The Project vi 11 ages have been se 1ec ted by the Pro vi nci a 1 Committee on Food and Nutrition according to the following criteria: 1.

There are pre-school children, of whom have protein-cal orie (PCM) to the first degree, 55 the second degree, and 30 per third degree.

2.

The agricultura l production conditions are moderate.

3.

There are supporting working in the areas.

4.

The village is accessible by road.

4

15 per cent malnutritio n per cent to cent to the

government agencies

5.

There is the potential from the villagers.

for

co-operation

The Project seeks to supply seeds for proteinrich 1egumi no us crops (for ex amp 1e, soya bean) and vegetables, and to breed poultry and promote fishrearing in public and private fish-ponds. Technical assistance is also included. Parents and guardians of chi 1 dren are encouraged to participate in vegetableplanting and animal-raising activities (poultry and fish) to have supplementary food for the children in the Child Development Centre (in the case of Ban Thung Yao) or the Child Nutrition Centre (in the case of Ban Nang Lorn) and moveover, they could supplement their income as well. In the Chi 1 d Oevel opment Centre at Ban Thung Yao, various activities have been conducted relating to health, hygiene, readiness, intelligence, and so forth. Sometimes 1 unches are served by arrangement between the chi 1 d attendants and parents. Food is also brought along by the children, in which case the chi 1 d attendants wi 11 carefully observe if the food has been hygenically prepared. If food is illprepared, proper advice will be given to rectify the method of food preparation. In 1979, Ban Thung Yao was selected to be the pilot village. Fifty packs of vegetable seeds (such as garden pea, Chinese cabbage, morning glory, egg plant and tomato) were distributed to fifty farm households. One hundred kilograms of soya bean seeds were also given to 100 farm families in the programme area. In addition, 1,000 fish (Tilapia nilotica) were raised in the public fish-pond. In the same year, Ban ~~ong Lorn was included in the project area. About 20 breeding stocks of paul try were distributed to the farmers. Three thousand fish (Thai silver carps) were raised in the 5

the increase to order in fish -pond pub 1 i c the in supplies food protein of y availabilit were seeds vegetable of types Various village. distributed as well. In 1980-81, the Project concentrate d only on Ban The farmers were asked to organize Nong Lorn. themselves into groups such as the soya bean grower group, the swine producer group, the poultry producer In February group, and the fish producer group. were seeds bean soya of kilograms 30 1981, distributed to soya bean producer groups. Ten swine and 56 pure breed cocks were supplied ·to swine groups producer poultry and groups producer respectivel y. Further, 1,800 fish (Tilapia nilotica) were raised in the public fish-pond. Each group had to nominate a chairman, secretary, and treasurer to be responsible for the ongoing activities and For example, if one farmer takes revolving funds. one swine, eventually he has to return two swine to the group. These new-born swine are expected to be The pupils in the circulated among the members. bean on a half rai soya grow to supposed are school plot and this soya bean is to be processed as soya bean milk for school pupils and pre-school children in the Child Nutrition Centre. This Project, supported by UNICEF, will 1ast for three years, from 1979 to 1982. It is hoped that the incidence of malnutritio n, especially PC~1, could be lessened and the quality of life of pre-school children could be improved as a result of this programme.

Research Objectives The

general

objective of this 6

study is to

evaluate

the food production for consumption programme in the Lamphun province in Northern Thailand with a view to improving the effectiveness of such programmes in the future. The specific objectives are: 1.

to investigate some determinants of food habits of farm households in the survey villages;

2.

to assess the impact of food production for consumption programmes in terms of three sets of indicators, namely, family income, household food intake, and incidence of malnutrition;

3.

to propose changes and recommendations in the government prograrrme so as to improve the effectiveness of such programmes.

Research Methodology

Collection of Data Three questionnaires were developed in order to collect information. The first, a "household head form", was designed to give a picture of some determinants of food habits such as ecological factors (seasonality of food, geography), structural factors (family size, education, land tenure), economic factors {income level and distribution, food distribution and transport, food production and disposition, food processing and storage). 7

11 The second questionnaire, a mother•s form 11 , was designed to provide infonnation on food taboos, food on special occasions (feasts), traditional values and beliefs, breast-feeding, food habits during pregnancy and lactation, frequency of food intake (both in quantity and value), food intake of infant and pre-school children, and so forth.

The third questionnaire was a consumption record Names of food consumed during the for housewives. day for seven successive days were recorded in order to get the data on food intake.

Selection of Villages Villages under study were Ban Thung Yao, Ban Nang Lorn, and Ban Pa Bong. The first two vi 11 ages were initially selected by the Provincial Agricultural Extension Office as the Project•s sites, and therefore, this study was automatically based on these villages. The third village, Ban Pa Bong, was chosen In the following sections, to serve as a control. 11 Ban Thung Yao and Ban Nong Lorn are called programme 11 11 Control and Ban Pa Bong is called the villages 11 village •

Sample Size Sample farmers selected had children attending either the Child Nutrition Centre or Child Development Centre. 3 There were 22 and 20 such farm househo 1 ds 3

These children, pre-schoolers 0-5 years old, are in the group most vulnerable to malnutrition.

8

in Ban Thung Yao and Ban Nong Lorn respectivel y. In Ban Pa Bong, the sample size was 13 since there were only 13 pre-school children in this village. This requirement , therefore, dictated the number of the sample size. This represented 11.4, 16.3, and 15.5 per cent of the farm households in Ban Thung Yao, Ban Nong Lorn, and Ban Pa Bong respectivel y.

Data Processing This study was conducted in co-operatio n witll Dr Viboon Rattanapano ne, a nutritionis t of the Department of Biochemistr y, Faculty of Medicine, and Mr Sompong Shevasunt, a social scientist of the Social Science Research Centre, Chiang Mai University. The field research took place over a period of 6 months, starting from November 1980 to April 1981. The farm households were interviewed by our team and students from the Departments of Agri cul tura 1 Economics and of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture , Chiang Nai University.

Analysis of Data Evaluation of the Food Production for Consumption Project was administere d by comparing three sets of indicators, namely, family income, food intake (both household and pre-school children food intake), and incidence of malnutritio n (as measured by weight for age) in "the programne villages" and the "control village", since it is expected that with the implementat ion of the project, the two areas should

9

achieve different rates of development.4 Villages in the nutri ti anal project are Ban Thung Yao and Ban Nang Lorn. Ban Pa Bong, which is the village not in the nutrition a 1 project, has been se 1ected to serve as a control, since this village has similar geographical, climatic, health and socio-economic conditions to villages in the project. Per capita farm income was used to represent fdmily income. It was computed by farm income divided by family size. Then, per capita farm income in the programme villages was compared with that in the control village. A measure of food intake of farm households and pre-school children was derived from the dietary survey comprising a one week's consumption record and a food frequency interview. For the consumption record, names of the food consumed during the day for seven successive days were recorded by each subject. Average daily food scores were analysed according to the concept of a balanced diet as follows:5 Score tvleats, animal products, and eggs Rice, flour, and sugar Vegetables Fruits Fat and oi 1 TOTAL

20 20 20 20 20 TOO

4

Changes in these indicators within the "programme villages" cannot be measured since base 1 ine data was unavailable at the beginning of the project.

5

Based on V. Rattanapanone, and N. Rattanapanone, "The Essence of Five Food Groups for Thai People", Journal of Nutrition Association of Thailand, 13 (1979): 35-43 (in Thai). 10

Poorly balanced, borderline, or well-balanced diets were identified if the average food scores were 1ess than 75, between 75 and 90, or more than 90 respectively. From the average food score derived from both methods, a comparison has been made to show the difference of food intake between the programme and of incidence the for As villages. control malnutrition, the degree of malnutrition in terms of weight for age was compared between the programme and control villages.

11

II

BACKGROUND OF SOME DETERMINANTS OF FOOD HABITS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS IN THE SURVEY VILLAGES

In this chapter, some determinants of food habits of farm households, namely, structural, ecological, economic, and cultural factors as well as eating patterns wi 11 be discussed in order to describe the village profile and the various factors influencing, directly or indirectly, food habits which in turn affect food intake and nutritional status of farm households in the survey villages.

Ecological Factors

Geography Lamphun lies in the northern part of Thailand, between latitudes l7°35 N and l8°39 N and longitudes 98°40 1 E and 99°l5 1 E. The elevation is, on an average, about 330 metres above sea-level and it is about 724 km. north of Bangkok. Lamphun is bounded by Chiang Mai to the north and the west, by Lampang and Tak to the south and by Lampang to the east (see Map 1). 1

1

12

The survey included three vi 11 ages, namely, Ban Thung Yao, Ban Nang Lorn, and Ban Pa Bong. They belong to Tambon Pa Suk, Amphur Muang,6 which is 11 km. from Lamphun (see Maps 2 and 3). Topographically, it is located on low terrace land and is flat to very slightly undulating. Ban Thung Yao is 1ocated approximately 11 km. from Lamphun and 6 km. from the Chiang Mai -Bangkok 11 SUper-highway 11 • The village is linked to this highway by a traditional unsealed road about 6 km. long. It receives water from the Mae San stream during the rainy season, but has scarce water in the nry season. The area is a level-floored valley. It does not have piped water although water is available all year round from wells dug in each compound. Electricity had reached the village just a few days after the survey was conducted. Some shopkeepers have television sets which are operated by a car battery. There is a Child Development Centre run by the Department of Community Development with 26 pre-school children. The Protein Food Production for Consumption Project was introduced into this village in 1979. There were 193 households in this village in 1981, of which only about 60 households had latrines. Ban Nong Lorn is 1ocated 2 km. away from Ban Thung Yao. There are several natural springs in the village which can irrigate 20 rai of cultivated land (1 rai = 0.395 acres). This natural spring water is suited for planting garlic and peanuts. The village adjoins a mountain where there is some low terrace

6

11 Administratively, Changwad 11 (Province) is 11 divided into Amphur 11 (District), Amphur is divided into 11 Tambon 11 (Sub-district), and Tambon is divided into "Moo Ban 11 (Village).

13

MAP I Lamp hun

CfiiANG MAl

LAfv1iW'10

~

CHANG WAD BOUNDARY

------- AMPHU"l BOUNDARY

~RIVER -

TAK

,\~,\IN ROAD

RAILhJt\;)

SOURCE:

Provincial Agricultural Extension Provincial Office, Lamphun.

14

Office,

Lamphun

WIP 2

Chiang Mal Valley

Changwot boundary System boundary Mol or sealed rood Roilwoy

,

..... •ooi

esonSol , .. "'

esomoeng

'

','

,,

-.. "\~ ·- . :/.~;, ..

-e:c.

I-Ui.NG MAt

'

I'\.-.~-"

,' ,; 1\', ----

/ .-·,,\\''\

·~01aph1

/ .·

,..f.:!,:._

. '' ' '. ,' /

f.

i ·r_.,.. '

I

-' ' / I !I•"'!

/ /

1.__,.., / ........

SOURCE:

fOON

',

··~Po Sang

Multiple Cropping Project, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mal University, Chiang Mal, Thailand.

15

~P3

Tambon Pa Suk, Arnphur Muang, Lamphun

BAN 1

Merchants 3 Item Bought Rice Peanuts Tobacco (non-food crop) Gar I ic Shallots Vegetables Fruits Oxen Buffaloes Pigs Chickens

2 3 4

5

Consumers I (Ret a i I ers)

7.41

-

56.00 25.00

-

36.36

Locai 2 Merchants

59.26

16.67 I I• I I 100.00 20.00

from Elsewhere 1oo.oo 22.22

66.67 55.56

-

10.71

16-00 75-00 100.00 82.14

13.64

50.00

-

-

Merchants 4 in Lamphun/ Chiang Mai

I I• I I

16.67 33.33

s.oo

-

7.14

-

Tobacco 5 Curl ng Barn

Total

-

100.00 100.00

roo.oo

100.00 100.00 roo.oo roo.oo 100.00 1oo.oo 100.00 100.00

-

-

-

Sell to neighbours for home consumption or home use., Merchants from the same villages who collect farm produce to the wholesalers. Mechants who come from either the local district centre or Lamphun by light four-whee I truck S• Merchants who I ive permanently in Lamphun/Chiang Mal. Tobacco curing barn located between Ban Pa Bong and Ban Nong Lorn.

100.00

weight

TABLE I I

Form of Transportation Distribution of Form of Transportation

Produce Rice Peanuts Tobacco Garlic Sha I lots Vegetables Fruits Oxen Buffaloes Pigs Chickens

Buyers Collect Produce Themselves

4-wheel Truck

100.00 55.56

18.52

83.33 66.67 100.00 44.00 50.00 100.00 89.29 72.73

16.67 33.33

20.00 25.00

I O. 71

-

Bicycle

Ox-cart

-

100.00

-

-

-

-

27.27

-

-

-

-

-

-

Human

25.93

36.00 25.00

-

-

Total 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

are four private shops at Ban Thung Yao, three at Ban Nang Lorn, and two at Ban Pa Bong. These shops are extremely convenient for and useful to the villagers. As for pork and beef marketing, there is one female trader who incidentally is a chief of the Home-maids Group of Tambon Pa Suk living at Ban Nang Lorn and who used to sell pork at Ban Pa Bong (2 km. away} in the morning and at Ban Nong Lorn in the afternoon. The daily amount of pork sold is approximately 30-60 kg. Pork is bought from Tambon Pa Suk. If pork is not available, buffalo beef is bought from Tambon Nong Hoy, Chiang Mai instead. At Ban Pa Bong where the railway station is situated, there are three female traders who come from Lamphun by train. Two traders sell sliced pork, candy, vegetables such as egg plant, string beans, and bean sprouts. Bean sprouts are the most popular food i tern sol d. Another trader comes from Lamphun once a month and sells several types of vegetables. In addition, at Ban Nong Lorn, there is one housewife growing cabbages on half rai plots for sale but the supply is still not enough to serve the demand. It can be seen that the villages have relatively good market outlets and a generally high standard of living. Foods are also well distributed in the survey villages, even in the most geographically isolated one, Ban Pa Bong. Food Production and Disposal of Crops Almost all the farmers in this area grow rice and peanuts; other crops are not so popular, as only less than one third of the farms grow them. Rice 1ed in acreage (65 per cent}, followed by peanuts, tobacco, shallots, garlic, and vegetables (see Table 12}. For rice, the farmers plant mostly traditional varieties (primarily glutinous} in the rainy season. 39

TABLE 12 Cultivated Area of Various Crops Cultivated Area*

Farms

No.**

9.87 I· 77 lo38 0-94 0-78 0.35

65 12 9 6 5 2

15.09

100

49 27 10 9 8

5

Note: Vegetables grown at the homestead are excluded. * Paddy and upland area only. ** Excluding landless farm labourers. *** Including cabbage, tomato, string beans, pepper, egg plant, so forth.

40

100 55 20 18 16 10

and

Rice is well suited to the conditions of the Lamphun Valley as there is adequate rainfall during the rainy season. It is also the mainstay of the diet and an important aspect of culture; each househo 1 d is expected to produce sufficient rice to meet its own requirements. The other crops that are grown in the rainy season but on different p1ots of land (mostly upland near the mountains) are tobacco, peanuts, and some vegetables. Dry season crops planted in January where water is available include dry season peanuts, garlic, sha 11 ots, and vegetables. The most commonly practised multiple cropping system is the two-crop rotation, such as rice-peanuts, rice-garlic/shallots. The disposal of rice, peanuts, garlic, tobacco, and shallots produced by the farmers interviewed is shown in Table 13. It is evident that almost all the peanuts (84.27 per cent) and shallots (71.31 per cent) produced are sold. For non-glutinous rice, almost all is either sold (65.58 per cent) or given to the farmer•s landlord (15.84 per cent). Only for glutinous rice is a major portion (66.61 per cent) kept for consumption. In addition, 18.76 per cent is given to the landlord and an average of 3.89 per cent of the glutinous rice produced is reportedly sold. For garlic, almost all is either sold (49.74 per cent) or kept for consumption (30.20 per cent). About 2 per cent of the rice is kept for seeds for planting, whereas 14.82 per cent, 20.07 per cent, and 27.30 per cent of peanuts, garlic, and shallots respectively are retained for seeds for planting next season. About 2.48 per cent of the rice is fed to animals and another 2.14 per cent given away in charity (to the temple). The changing trend in agri cul tura 1 crops for the years in Table 14, which shows that households did not undertake 41

production of some 1978-81 is reflected 69 per cent of the cropping in the dry

Tf>BLE 13

Disposal of Crops Type of Crop Production

u

Ql

2

""

.....

I.J..I

c.;

c:::c:

~

o-

I..

i

~8

I

.....

1.1...

::> 1.1...

0

6

>-

..0

"0

8

LJ...

I

L~-~-~

I

C'J

g

third group and 5 per cent are deficient in the In Ban Thung Yao, 4 per cent of fourth group. in the third group and 9 per deficient children are In Ban Pa Bong, 20 per group. fourth cent in the are deficient in the children of cent per cent and 10 It can be seen ely. respectiv groups third and fourth that is, result, same the give methods that both in the deficient are villages three all children in t concurren is result this groups; fourth third and intake. food household with farm Looking at the food score by consumpti on record method (Table 24 and Figure 7), it is found that the food score of pre-schoo l chi 1 dren in Ban Nong Lorn ranged from io to 49, 58 per cent of them having a food score ranging from 20 to 29; children in Ban Thung Yao had a food score ranging from 20 to 59; 41 per cent ranging from 20 to 29; and those in Ban Pa Bong. from 20 to 49; 56 per cent ranging from 20 to 29. TPBLE 24 Children by VIllages Pre-schoOl of Score Food Average (food Consump~ion Reoord Method) Ban Thu ng Yao

Ban Nong Lorn

Ban Pa Bong

Food Score

No.

%

No.

%

No.

%

20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59

9 6 4 3

40.9 27.3 18-2 13.6

II 6 2

57.9 31.6 10.5

5 I 3

55.6 I I•I 33.3

TOTAL

22

Average

9

19 30.3

35-1

31·9

Analysis of variance of average food score= Non-signifi cant

70

FIGURE 7

Average Dally Food Score of Pre-school Children by a One-week Food Consumption Record Method 100 Ban Kong Lorn

Ran Thung Y ao

Ban Pa Bong

811

:;

1

60

~

,:

c "

~

40

~

~

"-

20

10-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79

10-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 S0-59 60-69 70-79

Food Score

10-19 20-29

30-39 40-49 50-59 60-bY 70-79

Using the food frequency interview method (Table 25 and Figure 8), it is found that pre-school children in Ban Nong Lorn have food scores ranging from 10 to 49, that is, 26, 47, 11, and 16 per cent of them have scores ranging from 10 to 19, 20 to 29, 30 to 39, and 40 to 49 respectively. In Ban Thung Yao, the scores ranged from 10 to 99, that is, 9, 14, 18, 18, 23, 9, 5, and 5 per cent of them had food scores ranging from 10 to 19, 20 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49, 50 to 59, 60 to 69, 80 to 89, and 90 to 99 respectively. In Ban Pa Bong, the scores ranged from 20 to 59, that is, 33, 33, 22, and 11 per cent of them had food scores ranging from 20 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49, and 50 to 59 respectively. TN3LE 25 Average Food Score of Pre-school Children by Villages