Author(s): Warach Madhyamapurush, Mohntohn Srisuk, Krisada Tussama, Pannanat Saksirikhun, Numtip Smerchuar
The purpose of this paper is to synthesize the economic, environmental, and social impacts of jasmine rice cultivation at the community scale in Dokkhamtai District, Phayao Province, Thailand, by considering a mixed-methods research approach - questionnaire, interview, and focus-group discussion. Data analysis relied on the Social Return on Investment (SROI). The results showed that the economic, environmental, and social impacts of jasmine rice was the Director of the Phayao Provincial Agricultural Office, the Director of the Dokkhamtai District Agricultural Office, and the Head of the Rice Seed Center in Phayao, along with twenty key participants in the community: the Head of the Jasmine Rice Farmers’ Group (a cooperative crop), the Head of the Community Rice Center, and representatives of the local mill and the Jasmine Rice Farmers Group in Dokkhamtai District. The results on the Social Return on Investment (SROI) assessment showed the net benefits in output and outcome to be positive, with a total of 12,106,148.90 THB (385,055.62 USD). There was additional financial input from the Thailand Research Fund in the amount of 9,733,218 THB. The return per 1 THB was 1.24 THB, a positive social return on investment. Suggestions to improve the level of return on social investment at the policy level include: 1) formulating an effective water management policy for jasmine rice cultivation in the North Mekong region, 2) supporting a grant to carry out ongoing research projects, and 3) applying the results to an analysis of public and private projects or NPOs to ensure the value of investment on social impacts and to maximize the benefits to all stakeholders.