Social Opportunities and Income Sources Diversification Developing Models for Deprived Farmers Cultivating Cassava Through Agri-Business Value Chain Management: A Case Study of Cassava Production Using Appropriate Technology in Kalasin Province

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to develop social opportunity models and explore the income diversification sources of the deprived farmers cultivating cassava through agri-business value chain management: A case study of cassava production using appropriate technology in Kalasin Province. This research employs both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The sample includes deprived farmers from Nong Kung Si, Sahatsakhan, Na Mon, Don Chan, Kamalasai, and Kuchinarai Districts. These farmers were selected using the TPMAP and Kalasin Happiness Model (KHMV2), encompassing 550 occupations related to cassava. Data collection instruments included a revenue-based survey, an assessment of technology adoption and deployment, and an analysis of innovator levels. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. The research yielded the following results: 1) The social opportunity lies in empowering farmers to engage in agricultural learning, enabling them to become innovators who can apply their knowledge to develop others and expand networks. 2) In the cassava farming chain (Mun Kum-Kha), 550 deprived farmers experienced an average income increase of 481,625 THB, or 137.71 percent, following the research project. This income growth was driven by the use of appropriate technologies such as charcoal kilns and presses, which allowed farmers to collect and process remaining oil rhizomes from their plots into biomass charcoal for sale. Additionally, the production of wood smoke vinegar helped reduce pest control costs in general agricultural plots. Cassava scraps were chopped, dried, and sold, while cassava waste was processed into animal feed, ultimately evolving into a learning network capable of entering the market.