การประชุ
มวิ
ชาการและเสนอผลงานวิ
จั
ย มหาวิ
ทยาลั
ยทั
กษิ
ณ ครั้
งที่
19 ประจำป
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neglected aspects of agricultural development as sustainable subsistence and small-holder self-
sufficiency as a national policy, and religious traditions related to agriculture, various hypotheses for
informed interdisciplinary research were formulated, including for example, a form of applied
agricultural ethics.
18
This contrasted markedly with the general international understanding of
agricultural development and accordingly led to questioning of the viability of the emerging
concept of sustainability as it was being approached in agricultural research in general.
In short, the sustainability of smallholder agricultural approaches was found to be more
realistic than that of modern development planning.
With further research and an emerging maturity, modern technological approaches were
compared with ancient wisdom. This led to the conclusion that while agriculture originated
with and probably was causal to the refinement of two forms of knowledge – rational and
experiential – the rational deductive form has since been pursued in earnest in our science while
experiential knowledge had been neglected. This realization allowed clearer understanding
that apparent conflicts between science and traditional value systems are, contrary to popular
opinion, part of the continuing evolution of applied science. It is probably the best basis for
continued sustainable development, provided it remains open to challenges to its underlying
assumptions. This is the essence of sound research for community benefit.
18
Falvey, L. (2005) Religion and Agriculture: Sustainability in Christianity and Buddhism. c.350pp. Institute
for International Development, Adelaide.
With this knowledge, it is possible to orient the small component of research that is conducted
in universities to the particularities of the South. In this research: hill-tribe animism proved to be a
necessary ingredient for useful technical research; social attitudes to food security proved infinitely
more real than institutional planning targets for food security; health and education were
development priorities far ahead of gross domestic product, and cross-border relationships for
family and trade transcended national definitions of internal communication. So in the South
local community views and knowledge should assist in defining the valuable research of the future.
Food for Thought:
A specific and informed approach to applied research for supporting local communities
requires local knowledge and awareness, and confidence to sometimes challenge national
and international norms.
