Many countries have programmes to help young people start farming. However, some of the programmes have been criticized for not providing enough support, particularly because they do not adequately account for the diverse profiles of young farmers. The present study analyses the profiles of young farmers in Thailand and to what extent they benefit from support programmes. Eighty-four farmers under the age of 40 were interviewed in Chiang Mai and Prachinburi Provinces, along with 15 staff members of support programmes for young farmers. Five types of young farmers were identified, who differed in their motivation, farming systems and engagement in farming. Some farmers focused on economic profitability, while others considered environmentally sustainable farming practices to be important or were actively engaged in other activities at domestic or village level. This wide range of goals and situations entailed varying constraints during the first years of farming. The support programmes helped farmers overcome their lack of farming knowledge and helped them integrate into rural communities, but the support they provided in accessing land and capital was sometimes limited, and often non-existent. To improve support for young farmers in Thailand, the diversity of young farmers’ profiles should be accounted for not only in capacity-building activities but also to help them access other types of resources.

中文翻译：

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泰国支持计划和年轻农民的多样性：匹配吗？

许多国家都有帮助年轻人开始耕种的计划。然而，一些计划因为没有提供足够的支持而受到批评，特别是因为它们没有充分考虑到年轻农民的多样化特征。本研究分析了泰国年轻农民的概况以及他们从支持计划中受益的程度。在清迈和巴真府采访了 84 名 40 岁以下的农民，以及 15 名青年农民支持计划的工作人员。确定了五种类型的年轻农民，他们的动机、农业系统和农业参与度各不相同。一些农民专注于经济盈利能力，而另一些人则认为环境可持续的农业做法很重要，或者正在积极参与家庭或村庄一级的其他活动。这种广泛的目标和情况在农业的最初几年带来了不同的限制。支持计划帮助农民克服缺乏农业知识并帮助他们融入农村社区，但他们在获得土地和资本方面提供的支持有时是有限的，而且往往是不存在的。为改善对泰国青年农民的支持，青年农民的多样性不仅应在能力建设活动中加以考虑，而且应帮助他们获得其他类型的资源。支持计划帮助农民克服缺乏农业知识并帮助他们融入农村社区，但他们在获得土地和资本方面提供的支持有时是有限的，而且往往是不存在的。为了改善对泰国青年农民的支持，青年农民的多样性不仅应在能力建设活动中加以考虑，而且还应帮助他们获得其他类型的资源。支持计划帮助农民克服缺乏农业知识并帮助他们融入农村社区，但他们在获得土地和资本方面提供的支持有时是有限的，而且往往不存在。为了改善对泰国青年农民的支持，青年农民的多样性不仅应在能力建设活动中加以考虑，而且还应帮助他们获得其他类型的资源。