Local wisdom knowledge management Coconutsugar production aspect fo BangKrabue Sub-district SamutSongkram Province

Abstract

The objectives of this study were (1) to analyze the knowledge management process of the local wisdom of coconut sugar production of the Bang Krabue Subdistrict Community, Samut Songkhram Province, (2) to identify problems and obstacles to managing the local wisdom knowledge of coconut sugar production, and (3) to offer approaches to developing the knowledge management process of the local wisdom of coconut sugar production.

This study employed a qualitative case study approach. Data were collected from documentary evidence, non-participant observations, and in-depth interviews with 26 individuals, including farmers, local-wisdom philosophers, members of community enterprise groups, community leaders, coconut sugar consumers, and officers of public agencies, and they were analyzed by an inductive analysis.

Major findings: (1) on the knowledge management process of the local wisdom of coconut sugar production, it included (a) knowledge research through diverse knowledge sources, (b) knowledge construction by regularly inventing and creating new knowledge from accumulated experiences, (c) knowledge storage and retrieval by memorizing the knowledge passed on from ancestors without keeping physical records and retrieving it from local-wisdom philosophers, and (d) knowledge transfer and utilization by passing on knowledge to children for further use as careers; (2) on the problems and obstacles to managing the local wisdom knowledge of coconut sugar production, they included (a) complicated and dangerous production processes, (b) fluctuating weather conditions decreasing production yields and disease outbreaks, and (c) insufficient workers to continue with this career; and (3) on the approaches to developing the knowledge management process of the local wisdom of coconut sugar production, they included (a) the knowledge research involving public agencies’ promotion and creation of diverse and easily accessible knowledge sources, (b) the knowledge construction involving all sectors’ active and consistent promotion for knowledge creation, (c) the knowledge storage and retrieval involving all sectors’ joint efforts in creating of a database and registering local wisdoms, and (d) knowledge transfer and utilization involving an emphasis on transferring knowledge to children for the better understanding and appreciation of ancestors’ intellectual heritage and future career opportunities.