| Agriculture has been one of the most important occupations in the Thai society from the past to the present. A considerable number of plant varieties in Thailand are partly derived from the farmers’ path of life and their customs—they exchange seeds and knowledge relating to such varieties. However, under unavoidable international trade and free market paradigm, agriculture businesses led by multinational corporations encourage and support modern agriculture by convincing farmers to cultivate for export using high yield varieties, and limiting farmers’ choice to grow crops. Under these circumstances, the principle factors of farmers’ cultivation, seeds and plant varieties among others, are transformed into private property and protected by an intellectual... |
