Strategy for the Development of Self-Reliant Community Economic Management of Bang Sawan Community, Bang Swan Subdistrict, Phrasaeng District, Suratthani Province

Abstract

This is a qualitative research which processed as an action research method in order to 1) study a context of the related area and factors in promoting self- reliance community economy management and 2) study the strategies of self- reliance community economy management 45 target populations were randomly selected from stakeholders of Bangsawan’s community economy groups. The instruments used in this research are related documents analysis, in-depth interview, observation, focus group discussion and appreciation Influence control (AIC).

The study shows that 1) Bangsawan subdistrict is a part of Prasang district in Surat Thani Province. It is located in a mountain terrain with lots of rain. The subdistrict has a population of 5,295 families managed by a subdistrict administrative organization with a budget of 11,348,400 bahts in a budget year of 2023. Economy system in the area is agricultural economy includes plantations of rubber tree, oil-palm and local fruits. There are community economy groups which contain Sufficiency Economy group, Apiculture group, Carving group, Local food, Herb, Cold Pressed Coconut Oil and Curry producing groups. The leader of a community who must be engrossed, reliable, honest, unambiguous and sacrificed is an important factor in community economy management. For government support, members of the group must understand targets and rules of compromise. Fundraising starts from local resources, knowledge and experiences of people in their community, not the money. 2) Strategies in developing a co-operation for community economy, for example, in an establishment of strong and sustainable farmer and farmer co-operative group. There is a co-operation between the community and a subdistrict Administrative Organization, such as knowledge management training on Sufficiency Economy and New Theory in order to understand a comprehensive farmer’s career and to be able to manage self-reliance community economy. For a support from other organizations consists of a support in sustainable community tourism, major and additional occupations.   There is a field trip for establishment and management of self- reliance community economy and a pilot project establishment of the ‘Khok Nong Na Model’ in Bangsawan subdistrict, too.