Value Added to Agricultural Residues: Local Wisdom for Interior Design Products Development with Corn Husk Rope

Abstract

This research is a part of an academic service task of the Project entitled Community and Village’s Quality of life Enhancement; Case study of Mae Kasa Village, Mae Sot, Tak Province. The main objective of this research is to (1) Study on Problems, Natural resources management and community environment of Mae Kasa village, Mae-sot District. And (2) to make value added to the agricultural residues through rope development from the corn husk waste through local wisdom. The developed corn husk rope had been used for interior decoration products. Data and information of the relevant natural resource and wastes as well as local wisdom on wickerwork were collected by in-depth interviewing and random sampling from volunteers on natural resource management. It was found out that most farmers have earned their living on corn cultivation, of which corns are sold to the factories. After corn harvesting, corn stumps are burnt that generate air pollution and other environmental pollution causing further impact to the communities. In order to minimize environmental pollution, the study was scoped on the development of wickerwork products from the corn husk residue. The physical properties of the weaved corn husk rope are strong but fl exible with high tension force capacity. Regarding the tension force testing; start applying the tension force at 1 N, the rope would extend to 18 mm. The fi rst rope would be broken at the tension force 927 N, followed by the second and the third ropes, respectively. Such properties could be used as a substitute material for decoration such as table, chair, lamp or interior decoration material. This is the strategy for value added to the agricultural residues which could increase the economic value of the village, Mae Kasa Village, Mae Sot, Tak Province.