STUDY THE COST OF LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN OF WATER CHESTNUTS IN WANG YANG DISTRICT, SI PRACHAN DISTRICT, SUPHAN BURI PROVINCE

Abstract

The objective of this study was to survey the cost of logistics and supply chain, and to study guidelines for improving logistics and supply chain costs of water chestnut in Wang Yang, Sri Prachan, Suphan Buri. It is an integrated research in terms of quantitative research. The research tool was a questionnaire and collecting data from farmers who also are water chestnut sellers from Sri Prachan, Suphanburi. There are 258 people were exemplified by purposive random sampling. The statistics used for data analysis were frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. For the qualitative research, the interview form as a research was used as a tool. Data was collected from 9 sources of water chestnut suppliers and some distributors in Wang Yang sub district. The research shows that 1) the result of the analysis of the opinions toward to the logistics costs and the supply chain of water chestnut farmers, administrative costs, procurement costs and the overall transportation costs are at a high level. 2) An upstream level, the group of water chestnut producers and processors would like to have the high development of water chestnut planting areas and species. Additionally, using chemicals causes soil deterioration, and then, farmers must purchase water chestnut seeds from China. There is no development of Thai species, it leads of lower price for fresh tubers, whilst, the farmers want to increase 2-3 baht per kilogram. 3) A middle level of water, the process starts from selling of raw and peeled water chestnut that requires human labor, so it leads of high costs. Moreover, bleaching process can cause pollution in the soil. 4) The downstream level, the water chestnut product is not known widely, especially among the young generation. Processing is small and having a low demand in market, but it is considered to be the uniqueness of the area.