Social capital and production risk: examining the association using the case of irrigated rice farms in Northern Thailand

Abstract

Results showed that higher perceived social capital in terms of interpersonal trust and network relationships are negatively associated with variability in production. The observed association can be attributed to the social capital capacity for resource generation and networking, which help mitigate potential risks. The study provided evidence of the importance of developing and strengthening the social capital of farming communities in supporting farmers’ risk management. Especially among farmers with less access to information, the farmer’s network facilitated the knowledge-sharing on farming innovations and improved practices.