Economic Returns of Vegetable Production in Alternative Agricultural Systems

Abstract

Organic, pesticide free and safe use vegetable farming systems are considered as alternative farming systems. The three vegetable farming systems have different technologies. The produces from the different from farming systems have different 'clean and safe' levels. Economic returns of the three vegetable farming systems are still a question. Thus in this study, economic returns of the three vegetable farming systems were estimated. Farm-level data of organic, pesticide free and safe use vegetable farming were, collected from 377 farms in Chiang Ma province. Conventional vegetable farming was also collected as a benchmark of the study. The results found that vegetable production net incomes included the opportunity costs from household labour and household inputs shows that organic and pesticide free vegetable farms have lower net incomes than that from conventional farms. Safe use vegetable farming systems show similarity to conventional farms. Conversely, when the opportunity costs are excluded from the analysis, organic and pesticide free vegetable farms gain 30 per cent net income over that from safe use and conventional farms. The results could reflect potential of alternative farming systems in supplying clean and safe produce, supporting the environments and absorbing household labour.