A study of self-reliance community growing Pakhwan vegetables : a case study of Kok-Lamduan village, Phromani sub-district, Muang district, Nakhon-Nayok province
Abstract:
This qualitative research aimed to study the causes of occupational change development in Kok-Lamduan Village, and the of a local Pakhwan vegetables industy. It also consider the development of the peoples quality of life in the community as well as the problems and obstacles of growing Pakhwan vegetables. The pattern for data collection of this study was done by questionnaire, interview and observation. The study found that the causes of occupational change in the people in Kok-Lamduan Village were two fold : major and minor causes. The major causes consisted of natural disaster, government policy, market pressure and the off-blocked thinking of the leaders.The minor causes were composed of the increasing and decreasing number of the population, value/attitude of the people in the community, demand for security in residence and profession, economic status, desperation in problem solving, incapable state of body and finally the assistance/support from government agences. Career development in the community of Kok-Lamduan Village could be divided into 4 periods, i.e. pilot period, period of earning the living and seeking for profession, period of different professions and period of self-reliance community economy under the enterprises system. The operational method of growing Pakhwan vegetables had 5 steps : pregroup setting ; group forming ; group growth ; problem and obstacle solving ; and future activities of the group. It was also found that growing Pakhwan vegetables and the development of the peoples quality of life in the community induced many aspects of change, i.e. the production for earning the living, good environment, the establishment of group with various types of professions and saving fund, better adaptation to the economy, love of residence, better education, happy life, growing of chemical-free Pakhwan vegetables, continual opportunity for learning, having a council (community forum), receiving support from outside agences, good public utility, unity and self- reliance. Natural disaster was an important factor in Pakhwan vegetables growing. For recommendations, of the growers of chemical-free Pakhwan vegetables at Kok-Lamduan Village wanted to improve the quality of production, the
transformation of product, money saving, etc. the executive committee of the group must promote more networks. For instance, the selling place of the production had to be fairer than it is at present. More members of the group were encouraged to return to grow Pakhwan vegetables.