ONE PRODUCT (OTOP)
4.2 Policy Stream and the OTOP Policy
4.2.1 The Sufficiency Economy and New Theory Concept
The Sufficienty Economy concept was one of the policy solution for the economic crisis which was highly influential for the development of alternative economy policy. It was the idea of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, whose partial statement from December 4th, 1997 can be quoted as following “Being the tiger is unimportant.
The important thing is that we have enough to eat and to live, with the sufficiency economy…meant the self-reliance enough for oneself.” (Pasuk Phongpaichit, 1998, p.
71).
There was also the principle of median path ways and sufficiency, which based on the concept that “Human needs resemble the ocean which cannot be filled. Therefore everything should start with limiting the human’s need”. This principle contrasted with the liberalism economy which pose no limit in seeking the resource to supply human need. Therefore, the Sufficiency Economy concept was the foundation of the collective wealth ideal within the community, which could evolve into the national ideal of resisting the Capitalism and Neoliberalism. In other words, this was the attempt of ideal war between the community and the global capitalism and deconstruct the discourse that “Sufficiency Economy is just agriculture”. In fact, the Sufficiency Economy refers to “the limiting of human desire which one could not afford”.
As for the New Theory, or the New Agriculture Theory, was the concept which aim to develop the people’s well being so that they could afford to live without being affected by the economic factors which are full of uncertainty (Faculty of Science, Thammasat University, and the Department of Community Development, 1998, pp. 17- 18).
The underlying assumption of this theory is that it require the small area of land, or approximately 15 Rais, located within the dry area, with the soil condition which allow digging reservoir, and the family members of approximately 5-6 persons. Those who applied the New Theory should be able to feed themselves and their families, as the New Theory’s essence is the management of water resource and land area, starting by dividing the 15 Rais of land into 4 parts, with the ratio of 30: 30: 30: 10.
30 % of land area would be used to grow rice during rainy season, in order to feed the family for the whole year. The rice which is left from consumption could be sold. During the dry season, this area of land could be used for growing other crops for consumption and sale similar to rice.
30% of land area would be used to grow fruit trees, vegetables, field crops, and raising animals.
30% of land area would include the reservoir, in order to save water for the dry season and to raise aquatic animal.
10% of land area would include the house and other construction (Faculty of Science, Thammasat University and Department of Community Development, 1998, pp. 21-22).
The ratio of 30: 30: 30: 10 is flexible and could be adjusted according to the condition of the land and the number of household labor. For example, in the case of the Southern region where it often rains, the area of reservoir can be reduced and increase the area for farming or raising animal. Or in case of the small household, the area for rice farming can be reduced.
Digging reservoir is essentially important for the New Theory agriculture. As the New Theory focused on the availability of water during the dry season, so at least there should be 30% of the land area reserved for reservoir. The location of reservoir must be easily accessible. The risk from drought can be reduced if there are also the external water resource. This would increase the moisture and soil fertility throughout the land area than the traditional irrigation. The type of plant would depend on the land area, amout of water, and number of labor. The choice of rice varieties should be appropriate for the area and the consumption preference of the family. And after the harvest, the family should grow the short-term crops to maximize the benefit from the land. There should be various types of fruit trees in order to increase the cashflow throughout the year. And the farmers should assemble to increase their negotiation power with the trader. The choice of animals should also appropriate to the area and the number of household labor. Animals should be selected for food and additional income (Faculty of Science, Thammasat University and Department of Community Development, 1998, pp. 35-36).
In other words, the New Theory is the model of how the household and community could feed themselves. The crops left after consumption would then be sold for additional income. When consider that there are increasing integration or relation in the economy, such as integration into the Asean community, although the members of the group received some advantage from such integration, but when the economic crisis occur in one country then it could expand towards other country swiftly as in the case of Euro zone economic crisis. But the Sufficiency Economy would lessen the dependency of the households and the communities from the capitalism economy.
Therefore, the impact of the economic crisis would be less. Furthermore, the New Theory also focus on the self-reliance capacity of the household and community. So if there is any threat from the new insecurity problem such as food insecurity, the community which practice the New Theory would be less affected than other. The New
Theory focused on the availability of water during the dry season, so at least there should be 30% of the land area reserved for reservoir.