Impact of Rainfall on Agricultural Growth in Thailand: Evidence in Farming and Fishing Activities

Abstract

Rainfall is related to economic growth. This is especially true for the agricultural sector which is a key food source. Rainfall has beneficial impacts in both arid and poor regions. Thailand, as an upper middle-income country according to the World Bank, has a tropical climate although rainfall varies between each region. Precipitation in the northern and northeastern regions is low while the southern region, as a narrow strip of land running northsouth bordering the Andaman Sea to the West and the Gulf of Thailand to the East, has the highest rainfall. Agricultural product characteristics differ between regions. In arid areas, agrarian products are largely from farming while fisheries predominate in the southern region. The effect of rainfall on GDP growth was explored on a region-by-region basis using panel data from 2004 to 2015 at provincial level. The FGLS (Feasible Generalized Least Square) estimator was used in the regression models. Results showed that in northeastern and northern regions, rainfall stimulated economic growth in all dimensions of the agricultural sector and agricultural subsectors. The economic impact of rainfall played a major role in the fishing subsectors compared to the farming subsector. Overall, results identified the regions and agricultural subsectors that were economically profitable as a result of increased rainfall.

Using the Delphi method to develop the social-ecological resilience indicators of organic rice production in Thailand

“…Although their 'R' values were more than 1 (Table 2), we considered revising them given that dissociation had been explicitly found to exist between the statistical values and their ascriptions. Most participants solidly indicated that the existence of water sources like rainfall and surface water (irrigation) is the foundation of agriculture, especially for organic rice farming (Sangkhaphan & Shu, 2019). This is because those water sources are not only essential for nourishing rice production, but they are also important in suppressing weeds and in enhancing soil structure by allowing for better nutrient retentive abilities (Polthanee, 2018).…”

“…Conversely, the role of rainfall was likely to be more significant in the case of those participants, who were growing organic rice in the highlands, where irrigation is scarce or absent (Panomsak & Sakdapolrak, 2012) because rainfall may be the single source, which maintains their crops (Olayide et al, 2016). Even underground water sources on the land, such as wells and ponds, which are man-made attempts at construction, are likely to malfunction if the reinforcement of rainfall is absent (Sangkhaphan & Shu, 2019). Therefore, these two indicators were recommended to amalgamate the process and make it more holistic and precise so that resilience can be monitored.…”

Pengaruh Pertumbuhan Ekonomi terhadap Emisi Gas Karbon Dioksida (CO2): Data Panel Negara ASEAN Tahun 2000-2019

“…mengandalkan iklim untuk aktivitasnya Sangkhaphan & Shu (2019). Hal ini menegaskan pernyataan (Lee, Villaruel, & Gaspar, 2016) bahwa perubahan iklim berdampak pada seluruh sektor perekonomian negara seperti sektor pertanian, industri, dan investasi.…”