PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT BASED ON COMMUNITY RESOURCES THROUGH A PARTICIPATORY PROCESS FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT OF BAN TAKO LANG, SUANPHUENG DISTRICT, RATCHABURI PROVINCE

Abstract

This study aimed to 1) examine baseline information on community products in Ban Tako Lang, Suan Phueng District, Ratchaburi Province, Thailand, 2) develop community product prototypes based on local resources through a participatory process, and 3) assess satisfaction with the product prototypes as well as propose management guidelines to promote sustainable community management.  A participatory action research (PAR) design was employed to accomplish the objectives. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, focus-group discussions, and questionnaires. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis, while quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation.  

The findings indicated that:

1) Ban Tako Lang had strong potential in natural resources, culture and local wisdom, and grouping particularly in the form of community organization that could support local product prototypes.

2) Prototype development implemented via hands-on workshops on processing bamboo shoots as the main raw material enabled participants to learn about a variety of new bamboo-shoot products and co-design packaging that met standards and  ensured consumer safety. Through practice-based learning, participants developed deeper understanding across production techniques, identity building, and basic marketing, which inspired business expansion and fostered collaborative participation and networking with experts.

(3) Tourist satisfaction with the prototypes was very high overall (𝑥̄ = 4.51,
S.D. = 0.57), particularly in packaging and marketing promotion aspects (𝑥̄ = 4.62, S.D. = 0.53). Guidelines for community product management should emphasize entrepreneurial capacity building, the elevation of production standards, brand development, and market expansion through contemporary strategies. The research findings indicate that a participatory process can generate value addition and sustainably enhance the competitiveness of community products. This is achieved by reflecting community identity through packaging and marketing communications designed to foster brand recognition.