Evaluation of the Policy on Community Land Allocation in Chonburi Province under the Administration of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha

Abstract

   This study aims to evaluate the government’s land allocation policy for communities in Chonburi Province and propose strategies to improve its effectiveness and sustainability. The research employs the CIPP Model framework. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and non-participant observations with key stakeholders, including government officials, community leaders, and local farmers. The findings reveal that the policy emerged from a context of structural inequality in land tenure and was implemented through NCPO Order No. 36/2016, which reclaimed land and reallocated it via the National Land Policy Committee (NLPC). In terms of input, a provincial-level working group was established, but challenges remained due to inadequate personnel and insufficient budget. The process was procedurally clear but lacked flexibility and sufficient preparation of target groups. While land was successfully allocated and cooperatives were formed, the resulting outcomes included unstable incomes and social fragmentation within newly formed communities due to the diversity of beneficiaries. The study also contributes new knowledge by applying the CIPP Model in Thai policy contexts and proposes the concept of “Dynamic Land Management Policy,” which emphasizes flexibility, context-based design, and participatory governance as key to long-term sustainability.