Critical Success Factor of the Sustainable Empowerment of Sericultural Farmers in Thailand

Abstract

This research aims to (1) analyse critical success factors in sustainably empowering sericultural farmers and (2) provide suggestions in sustainably empowering sericultural farmers. The research applies qualitative methods, participatory observation and in-depth interview which draws on Anthony Giddens’s theory of Structuration as its framework. The six sericultural farming groups, who have succeeded in group operational management, in the Northeast Thailand, where most of famous silk fabrics are produced, are selected through snowball sampling technique. The results from content analysis show five critical success factors, including the creation of proactive leadership, building group’s vision through communication and engagement, philosophy of sufficiency economy and good governance based management, supporting horizontal network, and promoting research and development in trans-disciplinary to meet the various market demand. This research provides five suggestions for the sericultural-farmer empowerment which are developing proactive leadership capacity through educational-institution level, knowledge transfer by knowledge management, conducting basic and trans-disciplinary sericulture-related programs, creating a variety of green products from silk, and building platforms of learning and business networks among generations.