Assessment of Vulnerability Index on Climate Variability in Eastern Thailand

Assessment of Vulnerability Index on Climate Variability in Eastern Thailand
Chaniga Laitae¹, Suwanna Praneetvatakul²,* and Kampanat Vijitsrikamol^2
1Center for Applied Economics Research, Faculty of Economics, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
²Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Faculty of Economics, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.

ABSTRACT

Climate variability as a result of global climate change is a recent major crisis for the agricultural sector worldwide. In eastern Thailand, agriculture plays a significant role and it is likely it too faces climate problems. This article assessed vulnerability to climate variability in eastern Thailand by interviewing farm households in Tha Mai and Khao Khitchakut districts, Chanthaburi province. The results showed that eastern Thailand is vulnerable to climate variability. Thus, supporting income diversification can reduce vulnerability to climate variability at the regional level. In addition, better farm water management and social integration, to exchange information and assistance, can contribute to enhancing the adaptive capacity at the farm-household level.

Keywords: vulnerability index, climate variability, eastern Thailand

Kasetsart J. (Soc. Sci) 35 : 432 - 446 (2014)