Living Development of Famers Based on the Philosophy of Sufficient Economy In Suwannaphum District, Roiet Province

Daorueng Phatthanawiboon, Associate Professor Dr.Narongrit Sopa, Assistant Professor Dr.Rangsan Singhalert

Abstract

The purposes of the research were to 1) to analyze major causal factors that influenced the living of famers based on the philosophy of sufficient economy in Suwannaphum District, Roi Et Province, 2) to design a model for living development of the famers based on the philosophy of sufficient economy and 3) to implement and evaluate the model for living development of the famers.The research methodology was divided into three phases. Phase 1: The research focused on analyzing casual factors in living development of famers based on the philosophy of sufficient economy in Suwannaphum District, Roi-Et Province.The data was collected by questionnaires from 392 farmers in Suwannaphum District, Roi-Et Province. Taro Yamane method was employed to calculate the sample size and the sample subjects were selected from the total 20,545 farmers by the stratified random sampling and simple random sampling techniques. Structural Equation Model (SEM) was used for data analysis. Phase 2: The study aimed to design a model for living development of the famers based on the philosophy of sufficient economy in Suwannaphum District, Roi-Et Province based on the results of phase 1. A model was designed by 21 stakeholders through the brainstorming and focus group methods, and the model was assessed by the experts. Phase 3: The research aimed to implement and evaluate the model for living development of forty farmers in Suwannaphum District, Roi-Et Province. The data was analyzed by MANOVA (Repeated Measure).  

1. The research findings revealed that eight causal factors were significantly related to the living of famers based on the philosophy of sufficient economy at the .05 level. The factors consisted of planning, information recognition, skills, self-awareness, attitude, learning, self-confidence and knowledge .The index of influence coefficients in the causal relationship was 0 .24,0.19, 0.18,0.18, 0.17, 0.15, 0.12 and 0.11 respectively. 

2. The study showed that the model for living development of the farmers based on the philosophy of sufficient economy in Suwannaphum District, Roi-Et Province consisted of 16 activities; namely, 1) designing a training curriculum, 2) designing attitude adjustment curriculum, 3) organizing the seminar on “Practical Application of the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy for Living”, 4) designing a self-confidence curriculum, 5) improving self-confidence of farmers, 6) designing a living curriculum, 7) study visit to the successful farming areas, 8) designing a skills development curriculum, 9) practicing agricultural skills, 10) designing a self-awareness curriculum, 11) improving self-awareness, 12) designing a recognition information development curriculum, 13) designing an integrated farming curriculum, 14) designing a living training curriculum, 15) organizing the seminar on “Planning for Good Living”, and 16) practicing with planning for living development. 

3. Regarding the model implementation and evaluation, the findings indicated that the living of famers in Suwannaphum District, Roi-Et Province after implementing the model based on the philosophy of sufficient economy was significantly better than before the model implementation at the .05 level.