The Northern Thai Land Tenure System: Local Customs versus National Laws

Abstract

Although the Thai government's 1986 Land Titling Project was designed to enhance security of tenure, promote efficient use of farmland, and increase agricultural productivity in Thailand, a study of villages in Chiang Mai province suggests that the project-in conjunction with population growth, rising land prices, and increases in commercial crop production-may have stimulated conflicts among villagers, encouraged rural indebtedness, increased small farmers' risk of losing their lands, and exacerbated economic differences between rich and poor. In order for the Thai government to realize the expected benefits of land titling, it should also prevent the accumulation of large estates by limiting the size of landholdings and should provide security for small farmers by guaranteeing prices for agricultural commodities.