Abstract:
The objectives of this research were 1) to study current status of the participatory learning process to enhance organic fruit management, 2) to analyze factors affecting participatory learning process to enhance organic fruit management, and 3) to synthesize the participatory learning model to enhance organic fruit management. This study was mixed methods research. 56 organic farmers were the respondents and 30 farmers were interviewees using criteria based on experience and training in organic agriculture and focus group discussion was conducted to collect data from 5 key informants, comprising role model organic farmers, academics, representatives from organic farmer groups, supporting officers, and public sector officers. Data were collected both quantitatively and qualitatively. The research instruments were a questionnaire, interview form, a record of focus group discussion. Data were analyzed using frequency, mean, percentage and content analysis. The research results according to the objectives were as follows. 1) The overall participatory learning process of farmers to enhance organic fruit management was at a high level ( M=3.64). When individual aspects were considered, an aspect with the highest mean was planning(M=3.77), participating activities (M=3.77), receiving benefits (M =3.75), sharing knowledge (M=3.65), and evaluation (M=3.63)were at a high level while perceived problems (M=3.38) was at a moderate level, respectively. 2) The factors affecting participatory learning process to enhance organic fruit management were overall at a high level (M=4.12). Overall internal factors were at the highest level (M = 4.55). When individual aspects were considered, an aspect with the highest mean was personnel (M=4.59), followed by leader (M=4.51) at the highest level. Overall external factors were at a high level (M=3.70). When individual aspects were considered, an aspect with the highest mean was economy (M=4.27), followed by organic agriculture policy (M=3.69), which were at a high level, while society (M=3.47) and environment (M=3.34) were at a moderate level, respectively. 3) The developed model was a model of participatory learning process of organic farmer grouping to provide organic farmers with good practices in organic farming step by step. Organic farmers have been developed according to the organic agriculture policy enabling farmers to continuously learn and develop themselves. The research results showed that the participatory learning process model affected the quality of organic fruit that operates upstream, midstream and downstream of farmers in a comprehensive manner and can expand organic farming networks in other areas as well as a database of community success that can be applied, applied and integrated with other interested organic agriculture groups to support the confidence of consumers and other agencies interested in obtaining guidelines for improving the quality of life and the community's income economy for better well-being.