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Many of <strong>the</strong>se adaptations were spearheaded by advanced farmers,<br />

farmer leaders, and medium- to large-size farmers. These farmers have enough<br />

capital to invest in <strong>the</strong>ir farms, to experiment, and to try new methods.<br />

Eventually, <strong>the</strong> benefits of <strong>the</strong> new technologies diffuse to small farmers as well.<br />

Expansion of mungbean and DSR in neighboring areas<br />

In 1985, <strong>the</strong>re was an expansion in <strong>the</strong> area planted to DSR and mungbean<br />

before rice. For example, in Chiang Rai Province, <strong>the</strong>re were 17.6 ha of<br />

mungbean before rice, 7.2 ha of DSR; in Lampang province, 58.4 ha of<br />

mungbean, 159.0 ha of DSR; and in Phrae, 8.6 ha of mungbean and 41.8 ha of<br />

DSR. After 1985-86, statistics on mungbean and rice were aggregated in such a<br />

way that it was impossible to ascertain changes. Initial interviews revealed that<br />

expansion of <strong>the</strong> areas planted to <strong>the</strong>se crops was limited to <strong>the</strong> original sites.<br />

Adoption, however, was not substantial because of problems with marketing,<br />

inadequate <strong>research</strong> and extension support, and <strong>the</strong> need for machinery. The<br />

experience in Dok Kham Tai indicated that continuous support by <strong>research</strong> and<br />

extension personnel is critical to sustain adoption.<br />

SOCIOECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF ADOPTERS AND NONADOPTERS<br />

The disappearance of DSR in 1986-89 limited data collection on mungbean -<br />

rice adopters: Socioeconomic conditions were assessed among adopters and<br />

nonadopters of mungbean before rice both within and outside <strong>the</strong> project area.<br />

Table 12 shows important socioeconomic indicators of <strong>the</strong> three groups.<br />

Land size and distribution<br />

Adopters of mungbean before rice had larger ricefields and more upland areas<br />

than nonadopters. The average farm size was 2.2 ha among adopters and 1.8 ha<br />

among nonadopters both inside and outside <strong>the</strong> project area. For all farms<br />

(including <strong>the</strong> upland areas) <strong>the</strong> average size was 2.7-2.9 ha. Of <strong>the</strong> adopters,<br />

s~nall farmers (approximately 1 ha) constituted about 30% of <strong>the</strong> total. Small<br />

farmers who were nonadopters constituted 50-53% of <strong>the</strong> total and had about<br />

1.1 ha of land. The percentage of adopters who were medium and large farmers<br />

(33-3796) was greater than for nonadopters (16-33%).<br />

Land tenure<br />

Most adopters were owner-operators (96%) compared with 73-80% of<br />

nonadopters.

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