The Effect of Harvesting Labor Constraints on the Production of Robusta Coffee Farmers in Chumphon Province, Thailand

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  • タイ王国チュンポン県におけるロブスタコーヒー生産農家が直面する収穫労働制約が生産に及ぼす影響

Abstract

<p>Farm labor shortages are posing a challenge to the Thai agricultural sector, causing labor constraints. Farmers who grow Robusta coffee in Chumphon Province are highly dependent on seasonal migrant labor from northeast regions during the harvest season. However, recent changes in labor market conditions and the development of non-agricultural sectors across the country have increased the difficulty in finding seasonal farm labor, and this acute labor constraint may affect coffee production. This study examines the effects of this labor constraint on production outcomes and labor allocation. To identify constraints and the allocation of inputs, especially labor input, a quadratic production function is employed to estimate marginal productivity. An augmented inverse probability weighting estimator is then utilized as a double robust to estimate the average treatment effect. Our estimations found that the difference in the marginal productivity of labor inputs is not significant; however, the labor hiring constraint has a negative and statistically significant effect on coffee production. Thus, the exchange of labor information and providing information on coffee picking practice in the site are needed. Additionally, as farmer groups serve an important role in building stronger social ties and decreasing labor constraints, programs that implement technology and tools for supporting unskilled harvesting labor, labor information, and coffee farm practices should be implemented through farmer groups communities.</p>

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