Orchard Farming Community of Koh Yor: Life amidst Consumerism Trend

Abstract

This article investigated the orchard farming community of Koh Yor Island amidst changes through consumerism trend.  The island community is an agricultural society where members have been engaging in fruit orchard, farming and fishing. In the past, the villagers used to engage in farming for household consumption only.  Surpluses from consumption were distributed and exchanged among members of the community. The way of life of the people in the community was so mutually interdependent.  At present, however, villagers in the community tend to engage more in off-farm occupations, and the community’s economy resulting from the global economy has affected the adaptation of the orchard farmers, whether it is the alternation of rice fields into cattle raising areas, homestay resorts or agro- tourism.

Consumerism driven by the development of capitalism requires the transition from agricultural production to commercial production.At the same time, the engagement of the public sector is also a part of the change in the community’s economy in terms of adaptation to global market, and the adjustment of the orchard farmers reflected the adaptation of members of the community to a restructured lifestyle of consumerism.