Community Strengthening Process for Food Security of Hand-to-Mouth Households in Suratthani Province
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Abstract
The objectives of this research were threefold: 1) to investigate livelihoods, income generation, and food security; 2) to examine success factors and obstacles regarding community strengthening; and 3) to develop a community strengthening process for food security. This study employed a mixed-methods research approach. The sample consisted of 400 participants. Research instruments included questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. The results indicated that the mean score regarding livelihoods and food security was at a high level (X̄ = 3.81, S.D. = .823) based on a 5-point Likert scale. Success factors consisted of: 1) Internal factors, such as agricultural knowledge, community cooperation, the utilization of online platforms, and youth participation; and 2) External factors, such as land access, support from local agencies, and access to fair markets. Conversely, obstacles were identified at two levels: 1) Internal obstacles included a lack of time, insufficient income, a lack of knowledge regarding agricultural technology, and land shortages; and 2) External obstacles involved land scarcity, limited market access, budgetary and municipal policy constraints, a lack of follow-up, and infrastructure issues. The proposed model for the community strengthening process for food security comprises six steps: (1) Survey and situation assessment; (2) Awareness building and participation; (3) Collaborative planning; (4) Skill and resource development; (5) Implementation and network building; and (6) Monitoring and evaluation.
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