Aspirations over tradition: Understanding Thai family farm succession planning

Our study aimed to examine the factors affecting family farm succession plannung. Results from a survey of 368 elderly farmers showed that some farmers were at an early planning stage (Stage 1; 12%), starting conversations with their children about the potential succession, while most were at a more advanced stage, which included involving their children in daily farm work (Stage 2; 38%). Approximately 22% of respondents involved their children in farm decision-making while gradually transferring full responsibility to them (Stage 3). Farmers whose children indicated an interest in farming were more likely to be at the advanced stages of planning.