Reductions in Income Inequality Among Agricultural Households in Thailand: A Post COVID-19 Pandemic Future

Abstract

Although the situation of income inequality in Thailand has been more likely to decrease continually, the agricultural sector still faces the problems of such inequality. Most agricultural households in Thailand are low-income earners, having high debts, low level of education, old-fashioned attitude toward farming, and limited access to agricultural resources such as land and irrigation. Moreover, those in the agricultural sector has been unfortunately affected by oil prices, globalization, and advances in technology. Most importantly, the COVID-19 pandemic has also widened the income inequality of farming households in Thailand. To narrow the income inequality of agricultural households in the long term, the recommendations for strengthening the agricultural sector in Thailand after the recovery of the COVID-19 pandemic are as the following. It is highly recommended that greater access to education should be provided thoroughly and equally. Farmers are developed and equipped with the agricultural knowledge and management to become professional farmers. Such farmers are expected to manage agricultural production and markets and be able to respond to the shifts in consumer behavior. The Thai farmers are recommended to be supported through continuous learning. The ecosystems that can encourage farmers to adapt to continuous learning should be created. In addition, agricultural infrastructure is developed. Such agricultural infrastructure includes land, water resources, logistics, and offline and online channels of marketing. An access to technology and the use of agricultural innovations to increase productivity and create more value-added agricultural products should be promoted. Besides, it is recommended to attract new generations to do farming businesses with tax and capital incentives along with the development of needed skills.