Sustainable Agriculture and Community-Based Economy: A Case Study of Poverty Reduction in Southern Thailand

Abstract

This study examines sustainable agriculture and community-focused economic models for poverty mitigation in Southern Thailand, focusing on the sufficiency economy and cooperative farming. Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, Thailand's least developed border provinces, face economic problems, market inaccessibility, and social unrest. Poverty affects many countries worldwide and requires a multifaceted solution. Human capital development, resource accessibility for the poor, capacity building, creativity, skill enhancement, and sustainability must be the focus of poverty reduction strategies. As per the National Economic and Social Development Council of Thailand, over 1.5 million ethnic Malays, the region's majority religion, have been affected by Thailand's decade-long unrest. Pattani and Narathiwat, neighboring provinces in the conflict-affected south, have the highest poverty rates in Thailand at 3.42 per cent and 3.417 percent, respectively. This study examines how cooperative farming models can improve rural livelihoods, productivity, and social cohesion. Mixed-methods research combines quantitative agricultural productivity and income data with qualitative farmer cooperative, local leader, and development organization perspectives. The results should show that sufficiency economy principles and cooperative farming can work together to promote sustainable economic development, reduce aid dependence, and strengthen communities. This study advances grassroots economic transformation and proposes equitable and sustainable growth in Thailand's southern border provinces.