Developing and upgrading models to solve poverty of Buriram Province

Abstract

This research aimed to elevate and develop Buriram Province's poverty alleviation model, focusing on vocational development and increasing the income of impoverished households through participatory processes. The BP-MAP data was used as a precise tool for target group identification, and the initiative was driven by the collaborative efforts of 19 internal and external university network partners. The research findings indicate that integrated operations across all sectors led to the development of 19 occupations, spanning primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors, thereby stimulating the community economy. A total of 722 impoverished households from 29 areas across 10 districts participated. The process involved Up-skill, Re-skill, and New-skill training, coupled with the transfer of appropriate technology and innovations, such as integrated agricultural plot innovations and vegetable plot cooling technology.

The operational results revealed that impoverished households with diverse occupations could increase their average monthly income by as much as 24.51%, with some areas experiencing an increase of over 40%. Notably, the "pum-puang" (mobile vendor motorbike) occupation generated an average income close to Buriram Province's minimum wage and played an effective role in product distribution and connecting community markets. However, impoverished households still face limitations in accessing resources such as capital, land, high-priced technology, and infrastructure. Continuous promotion and support from network partners including government, private, and civil society sectors are therefore crucial for sustainability.

Furthermore, the development of fund and welfare systems within occupational groups serves as a mechanism to strengthen long-term security. This was achieved by applying the Sufficiency Economy philosophy as a management principle, promoting strong group formation, and genuinely building the self-reliance capacity of impoverished households. This research thus reflects a social innovation that utilizes a holistic development process, which is effective in poverty reduction and promotes sustainability at the household and community levels.