The Dynamics of Farmer Houses in the North Eastern of Thailand: The Case Study at Kuchan Sub-district Khamkhueankaeo District, Yasothorn Province

Abstract

The Dynamics of Farmer Houses in the North Eastern of Thailand: The Case Study at Kuchan Sub-District, Khamkhueankaeo District, Yasothorn Province" aims to study the dynamics of farmer houses and community customs of Kuchan Sub-district, Khamkhueankaeo District, Yasothorn Province. The study found factors of changes in its customs that effect on the reformations of farmer houses in the studied area. There are three major questions of this research. First is what are community traditions, appearing as folk wisdoms, community culture, and common rituals in studied area since the past? Second, how is the dynamics of farmer houses in the studied area? Lastly, what are the effects on livelihood of the farmers due to custom changes and physical changes in studied area? From data collecting through documents, field survey, and in-depth interview within the community, the dynamics of farmer houses are the changing of community traditions (folk wisdoms, culture and rituals) and agriculture and farming tools. Farmer houses show the changing of farming technology developments as the tools for increasing of rice production. Therefore, farmers will have to build storages for those expensive tools in order to be safe from robbery and easier for maintenances. The reformations of the farmer houses have been both increase and decrease in some functions according to the changing of how farmers' works. Another important dynamic factor of farmer houses is a better transportation which makes the farmers prefer to stay in their house more than in the farm. Most farmers give priority on repairing their houses as a place to live and renovating free spaces for the new ways of farming. Farmers now are using substitute materials for house repairing because they are better quality and easier to find in shops and factories within the community.