Community Strengthening Process for Food Security of Hand-to-Mouth Households in Suratthani Province
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
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.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Chaiyawan, S. (2019). Structural support for food security in local communities. Agricultural Extension Journal. [In Thai]
Community Organizations Development Institute [CODI]. (2025). Community management guidelines for food security 2025. CODI Press. [In Thai]
Dam-on, N. (2020). Spatial analysis for community food security. Journal of Community Development. [In Thai]
Department of Community Development. (2024). Community resilience and strengthening process. Ministry of Interior. [In Thai]
Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University. (2024). Report on food consumption and food security situations of the Thai population at the Local level B.E. 2567. Mahidol University. [In Thai]
Itsariyanon, M., et al. (2021). Sustainable food systems and community resilience. Academic Journal of Southern Thailand. [In Thai]
Jusapalo, C., et al. (2016). Participatory action research for local food security. Prince of Songkla University. [In Thai]
Kanjanaphan, A. (2005). Local wisdom and self-reliance in a changing world. Amarin. [In Thai]
Keawthep, K. (2016). Media and community learning process. Chulalongkorn University Press. [In Thai]
Kerksakul, A. (2010). Loss of public space and natural food access. Southern Research Journal. [In Thai]
Klinthong, P., et al. (2017). Livelihood assets and food security of low-income farmers. Journal of Agricultural Research and Extension. [In Thai]
National Economic and Social Development Council [NESDC]. (2024). Thailand's social and economic outlook 2024. Office of the Prime Minister. [In Thai]
Nilkaewbawornwit, S. (2016). Resource management and community immunity. Local Development Journal. [In Thai]
Phornpit, S. (2005). Social capital and community development. Village Foundation. [In Thai]
Puang-ngam, K. (2010). Community self-management: The key to local empowerment. Borphit Printing. [In Thai]
Reungsri, R., et al. (2016). Local wisdom and community resilience in food systems. Journal of Thai Wisdom. [In Thai]
Sittisantikul, K., et al. (2018). Land access and urban agriculture for low-income groups. Journal of Social Sciences. [In Thai]
Sroithong, P., et al. (2023). Challenges of daily wage earners in urban Surat Thani. Southern Academic Journal. [In Thai]
Suksan, P. (2017). The role of leadership in sustainable community activities. Journal of Community Leadership. [In Thai]
Thepkraiwan, P. (2011). Networking for community strength. Journal of Public Administration. [In Thai]
Wongprasert, S., et al. (2022). Livelihood vulnerability of informal workers in southern Thailand. Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences. [In Thai]
Worawat, T. (2020). Change agents and community transformation. Academic Journal of Social Development. [In Thai]
Yingsukphaisan, S. (2017). Urban agriculture and food security: Proximity and socio-economic factors. Thammasat University. [In Thai]
Best, J. W. (1981). Research in education (4th ed.). Prentice-Hall.
Denzin, N. K. (1978). The research act: A theoretical introduction to sociological methods. McGraw-Hill.
Etea, Y., Goshu, D., & Gebre, G. G. (2019). Determinants of food security among rural households in Central Ethiopia. Journal of Agricultural and Food Economics, 7(1), 1–15.
Food and Agriculture Organization. (2021). The state of food security and nutrition in the world 2021. https://www.fao.org/publications/sofi/2021/en/
Food and Agriculture Organization. (2023). The state of food security and nutrition in the world 2023. https://www.fao.org/publications/sofi/2023/en/
Freire, P. (1970). Pedagogy of the oppressed. Herder and Herder.
Gertler, P., & Gruber, J. (2002). Insuring consumption against illness. American Economic Review, 92(1), 51–70.
High Level Panel of Experts [HLPE]. (2020). Food security and nutrition: Building a global narrative towards 2030. A report by the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on World Food Security.
OECD. (2025). OECD Economic Surveys: Thailand 2025. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/economic-survey-thailand-2025
Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council. (2025). Report on Thai social conditions and household security: Measures to promote self-management for sustainability. NESDC Publishing.
Pretty, J., & Ward, H. (2001). Social capital and the environment. World Development, 29(2), 209–227.
Rappaport, J. (1981). In praise of paradox: A social policy of empowerment over prevention. American Journal of Community Psychology, 9(1), 1–25.
Ravallion, M., Chen, S., & Sangraula, P. (2007). New evidence on the urbanization of global poverty. Population and Development Review, 33(4), 667–701.
Scoones, I. (2015). Sustainable livelihoods and rural development. Practical Action Publishing.
Sen, A. (1999). Development as freedom. Oxford University Press.
Yamane, T. (1973). Statistics: An introductory analysis (3rd ed.). Harper & Row.
Zimmerman, M. A. (2000). Empowerment theory. In J. Rappaport & E. Seidman (Eds.), Handbook of community psychology (pp. 43–63). Kluwer Academic/Plenum
Publishers.
