Abstract ID: 3.9637 | Accepted as Poster | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Most farmers in Thai highlands are hill tribes. They grow rice for household consumption in two ways: upland rice and paddy rice. Traditional upland rice cultivation, each household has 5-7 areas, which are rotated to grow rice in each area every year. In preparing upland rice fields, farmers cut down trees and burn it, causes dust and soil erosion. Upland rice yields are only 200 – 300 kg/rai (1.25 – 1.88 ton/ha), which is not enough for household consumption. Highland and Development Institute (Public Organization); HRDI has encouraged farmers to change the shifting cultivation in 3 ways; (1) Transform upland rice to terrace paddy rice (2) Rotating upland rice with legume, and (3) Transform upland rice to alternative environmentally friendly crops. This was carried out in collaboration with farmers in Huai Thon village. Bo Kluea District, Nan Province, from 2014 to 2023. We found that (1) There were 96 households (76% of the community) transform upland rice to terrace paddy rice, the area requirement was reduced from 1.12 – 1.6 ha/household/year to 0.32 ha/household/year, and the rice yield increased from 1.25 – 1.88 ton/ha to 3.13 – 3.75 ton/ha, sufficient for family consumption throughout the year. (2) Rotating upland rice with legume (rice bean, Vigna umbellata). The rice yield of rotating upland rice with rice bean by 4.1 ton/ha, while traditional cultivation by 2.8 ton/ha. Rice bean had a dry matter weight of 5.48 ton/ha, which was equivalent to 88.1 N kg/ha returned to the soil. In addition, it was generated an income for farmers 540.1 $/ha. (3) Transform upland rice to alternative environmentally friendly crops, coffee and avocado, the area was transforming 106.4 ha (average 1.12 ha/household) and it make more income 91,485 $. The changing, in the part of economy, increased income average from 147.1 – 1,176.5 $/household/year to 2,941- 7,352 $/household/year. Socially, farmers strengthen to manage by groups. For environmental, alternative agricultural system can reduce burning in agricultural areas and increase forest area 216 ha. That good practices for environmentally friendly agricultural and sustainable upland rice cultivation in the Thai highlands.