功德的試煉：泰國當代農業非政府組織的創新與實踐

The Trial of “Merits”: Creative Practices of an Agriculture NGO in Central Thailand

謝以萱(I-Hsuan Hsieh)

指導教授 ： 林開世

國立臺灣大學/文學院/人類學研究所/碩士(2014年)

https://doi.org/10.6342/NTU.2014.00703

摘要

本論文以泰國中部的一個推廣替代性農法的非政府組織與其接觸的農民�農友為研究對象，指出此替代性農法作為一種不同於慣行農法的耕作方式，對綠色革命所造成的負面影響做出反省，但它亦不是驗證式有機農業，而是一種主張降低農民耕作成本，對環境友善的同時也對人友善的耕作方式，藉由實際的農法操作與試驗，建立起一套屬於農民自己的農耕知識。並且，這樣的耕作方式結合了過往普遍存在於泰國農業社會的米之神信仰，企圖吸引人們放棄慣行農法，轉而崇敬自然的力量；從米之神信仰的形塑過程中，亦能清楚的看見各種不同的力量在其中持續地互動、影響，呈現出泰國當代宗教信仰充滿活力的樣貌。
　　推行與認同這套替代性農耕理念的人們，視這樣的農耕實踐是種「做功德（ทําบุญ tham bun）」，藉此鼓勵與肯認這樣的耕作型態，賦予其在文化中的道德倫理價值。本論文認為，要理解這套發生在當代的現象，功德概念提供我們很好的切入點，它提供泰國人理解自身所處的位置，以及轉換的可能，更是人與人、人與自然間關係的隱喻。就此而言，功德的內涵並非固定的，它會隨著當代的脈絡而有所轉變，同時亦反映出人們面對當代問題時的焦慮與解決之道。
　　然而這篇論文亦必須指出，這並非一種唯心論式的立場，這套農法與理念的實踐是奠基在相當具體且長時間的理性嘗試與知識建構上，同時也必須相當誠實地面對農民很根本的生計問題。面對依舊做為泰國農業發展主流的慣行農法，以及迅速崛起的驗證式有機農業，不服膺任何一方的替代性農法，可謂是一種相當另類的農業發展思維，這些參與者以開放的態度，靈活的姿態，持續地協助農民，試圖維持農業發展的多元樣貌。

關鍵字

泰國 ； 替代性農法 ； 稻米 ； 做功德

並列摘要

This study focuses on a non-government organization in center Thailand that conducts alternative agriculture and the group of farmers it cooperates with. The research tends to indicate an alternative path other than conventional farming which reflect the defects caused by Green Revolution. It is not organic farming, but a way to cost–down agriculture expenses, to befriend with the environment and the people, and to build a system of knowledge through practical conducts and experiment. In addition, this way of farming combines beliefs of Mae Posop (mother of rice), which commonly exists in Thai- society in order to draw people to give up conventional farming, and turn to respect the force of nature. Various power interact and affect each other endlessly in the making of the belief, revealing the energetic side of religion in contemporary Thailand.
The people who believe in this alternative agriculture and put the idea into action see this process as tham bun, so as to encourage and acknowledge this type of farming, and further assign cultural and moral values into it. This study considers that the notion of tham bun is a key point to understand the phenomenon happening in contemporary Thailand. It provides a way for Thai people to realize their position in life, the possibility to shift this position, and the connotation between men and nature. The notion of tham bun is not fixed. It changes throughout the context, and reflects the anxiety when facing contemporary problems and the solution being made afterwards.
However, the research would also like to point out that this idea is not a statement of Idealism. It is based on both a realistic rational attempt and a longtime knowlwdge building process. It also has to honestly deal with daily problems of the lives of the people. In face of the main stream of conventional farming and fast developing organic farming, it is unique to not comply with any kind of system. Nevertheless, these participants hold an open mind, stand in a flexible position, and continue to help the farmers to sustain a variable picture of the agriculture development.

並列關鍵字

Thailand ； alternative agriculture ； rice ； tham bun

參考文獻

Evers, Han-Dieter and John F. Embree, eds

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Belasco, Warren J.