Self-Reliance of Sufficiency-Oriented (Ariya) Agriculture Households

Abstract

          This article examines household self-reliance during the agricultural transition from a capitalist production system to a sufficiency-oriented livelihood model, known as Arya Agriculture. Employing a qualitative research methodology, the household serves as the unit of analysis. Data were collected through between April and June 2025 in-depth interviews with representative households that have received support and guidance in adopting the Khog-Nong-Na model of sufficiency-based production, under the supervision of the Udon Thani Community Development Learning Center, for a period of no less than three years. The study covers 24 households engaged in Khog-Nong-Na farming on landholdings ranging from 1 to 20 rai, categorized into three groups according to land size: (1) households with 1–5 rai (12 participants), (2) households with 6–10 rai (7 participants), and (3) households with 11–20 rai (5 participants). Data were analyzed using content analysis. 

          The findings reveal that households with 1–5 rai and 6–10 rai of farmland exhibit higher levels of self-reliance in terms of labor, capital, and local resource utilization compared to those with 11–20 rai. The latter group demonstrates relatively lower self-sufficiency, primarily due to the imbalance between land size and available household labor.