Non-Staple Foods Self-Sufficiency of Collaborative Rice Farming Households in Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

This study compares household non-staple food self-sufficiency among collaborative rice-farming (large-plot) households in Fang and Sansai Districts, Chiang Mai Province. The analysis emphasizes non-staple foods that strongly influence monthly household spending and vulnerability to market dependence. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered to 463 farmer households including 303 households in Sansai and 160 households in Fang. The instrument was assessed for quality (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.87; IOC = 0.80), and the data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings indicate that households in both areas reported relatively high sufficiency in foods obtained from natural sources (84% in Fang; 78% in Sansai) and in foods produced within the household (63% in Fang; 61% in Sansai), such as homegrown vegetables and small livestock products. However, self-sufficiency gaps persist for several non-staple items, most notably seasonings, beverages, and fruits. When shortages occur, households primarily cope by purchasing these items, which increases monthly expenditures. Average monthly purchased food was 2,468 Baht per household in Fang and 2,646 Baht in Sansai. Notably, spending on seasonings, beverages, and fruits accounted for a substantial share of total monthly purchased food expenditure—approximately 35.20% in Fang and 37.90% in Sansai—highlighting a structural dependence on market-supplied non-staple foods. These results suggest that strengthening household capacity to produce and process key non-staple foods could both reduce monthly expenditures and improve non-staple self-sufficiency. Practical interventions include household training on basic food processing (e.g., homemade seasonings and beverages), preservation techniques, and backyard fruit production, complemented by local support mechanisms and community-based food exchange. Together, these measures can enhance household resilience and contribute to long-term food security in collaborative rice-farming communities.