COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS TOWARDS THE PHILOSOPHY OF SUFFICIENCY ECONOMY

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigated: 1. context Bann Measoonnoi community, Maesoon sub-district, Fang district, Chiang Mai province; 2. knowledge and understanding about the philosophy of sufficiency economy of people in Bann Maesoonnoi community; and 3. community development process leading to be the sufficiency economy community of Bann Maesoonnoi community. A set of questionnaires and in-dept interview were used for data collection conducted with a sample group of 204 people living in Bann Measoonnoi and they were obtained by simple random sampling-obtained data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and content classification analysis. Findings revealed that Bann Measoonnoi had social capital resource and environmental capital and cultural capital contributing to development. Most of the respondents were female, 55.8 years old on average and farmers. They had an annual household income for 144,804 baht each on average which was not enough for savings. The respondents had a high level of knowledge and understanding about which morality was found at a highest level Regarding the adoption of sufficiency economy, they were tolerance, diligence, community participation, health care and refraining from vices. Besides, there were cost-effective use of resources without impacts on environment, application of local wisdoms to replace modern technology and growing vegetables for household consumption. For the community development process, it was found that people participation in village development was at a moderate level. There were problems in garbages and economy which concerned public agencies promoted and supported learning.