Knowledge Creating Process to Protect Fish Cage Farmers’ Rights in Contract Farming

Abstract

This participatory action research is qualitative research that aims to 1) explore the development of fish cage in the contract farming system and its effects; 2) investigate the rights and local mechanism in the protection of the fish cage farmers’ rights in the contract farming system; 3) examine the conditional factors of the protection of the rights of fish cage farmers in contract farming system; 4) create knowledge process for fish cage farmers in contract farming system, and 5) protect the rights of the farmers in contract farming system. The research method is data collection which uses focus group interview, in-depth review, brainstorming, and public consultation.

The research findings cover five different areas. 1. It finds the knowledge about fish cage contract farming’s issues, development, situation, and effects on economy, society and environment. 2. It helps to realize the rights of the fish cage contract farmers and the protection of their rights, which are 2.1) accessing the right information about fish cage farming, 2.2) steadily acquiring factors of production, 2.3) accessing to public resources, 2.4) being protected by public and relating sectors, and 2.5) maintaining traditional production while generating their own way of production. 3. The local mechanism is created in terms of the new integrating public network. 4.  A model area for agricultural rights protection registration is formed, and the local fish cage registering laws are explained, which are useful for the farmers. 5. The participatory research successfully brings about a crucial law: the agricultural contract system support and development act in 2017 and the fish cage contract farmers’ rights protection up until now.