Abstract:
The objectives of this research were to 1) study the effectiveness of the rubber policy implementation of agricultural rubber institutions in the Upper Southern provinces, 2) study the factors influencing the effectiveness of the rubber policy implementation of agricultural rubber institutions in the Upper Southern provinces, and 3) propose the recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the rubber policy implementation of agricultural rubber institutions in the Upper Southern provinces. This research was a mixed methods research which combined the qualitative and quantitative approaches. The qualitative research was conducted by in-depth interviewing 25 key informants consisted of 15 experts in rubber development and 10 related persons, they were selected by purposive sampling technique. The data were analyzed by using analytic induction and interpretation. The quantitative research was conducted by studying the sample of 219 respondents followed Taro Yamanes formula who were selected from 486 the officials, staffs and employees working in the Upper Southern provinces, they were selected by proportional stratified random sampling technique. The sample size was obtained by the calculation with Taro Yamanes formula. The research tool for data collection were standardized or structured interview five levels rating scale questionnaire at the reliability of 0.87. The statistics used for data analysis composed of means, standard deviation and the stepwise regression analysis. The research findings were as follows: 1) The effectiveness of rubber policy implementation of agricultural rub reinstitutions in the Upper Southern provinces in overall was at the moderate level ( = 3.34, S.D. = 0.50). While considered in each aspect was found that the aspect of objective attainment was at the highest level ( = 3.36, S.D. = 0.57), followed by the aspect of rubber industry sustainability ( = 3.36, S.D. = 0.61), the aspect of stakeholder satisfaction ( = 3.35, S.D. = 0.51), and the aspect of actual public benefit ( = 3.28, S.D. = 0.69), respectively. The aspect of objective attainment was at the highest level as the objective of this policy was complied with the needs of the rubber farmers to increase their incomes. The aspect of actual public benefit was at the lowest as this policy focused mainly on the benefit of the rubber farmers that brought about less actual public benefit. 2) The factors influencing the effectiveness of the rubber policy implementation of agricultural rubber institutions in the Upper Southern provinces based on the prediction equation and ranking from the highest consisted of 4 aspects : (1) the aspect of the governmental support, (2) the aspect of leadership, (3) the readiness of managerial resource aspect and (4) the cooperation of farmers aspect. These four variables could explain the variation of the effectiveness of the rubber policy implementation of agricultural rubber institutions at 96.10 percent (Adjusted R²=0.961) at the level of significance of 0.05 3) The proposed recommendations for improving the effectiveness of rubber policy implementation of agriculture rubber institutions consisted of 6 principle measures as (1) the objectives of rubber policy should be expanded by having more production plans in getting higher qualities and more products per production areas, (2) the rubber policy should be improved for public benefits by increasing internal consumption, (3) the governmental support should be facilitated by encouraging the private sectors in improving their own producing machines, (4) the leadership should be enhanced by acknowledging the leaders in having broader vision and being appropriate leader for change, (5) the managerial resources should be increased by setting up the appropriate benefit system and having suitable welfare for all personnel and (6) the cooperation of all farmers should be enhanced by developing the joint venture in investment and performing, especially in the labor sectors.