The Prototype Community Development “Urban Agriculture”

Abstract

This research aimed to study 1) the context, problem and situation of the urban agriculture in the downtown
community of the industrial estate of Chonburi province and Thanawan village, 2) to study the activity
and feature of the prototype community development model “Urban agriculture”, and 3) to experiment and
to evaluate the model. The research process were; the first; to study the context, problem and situation of
the urban agriculture by documental research and the phenomena research. The second; to establish the
prototype community development model “Urban agriculture” by the expertise, the concerning persons and
the local researchers. The third; to experiment and to evaluate the model in the Thanawan village. The target
population was 10 families in the Thanawan village consist of 30 persons selected by the voluntary purposive
sampling.
The appropriate innovation of the prototype community development model “Urban agriculture” were; the
community network should have knowledge, understanding, attitude and skill in 11 operating activities namely;
1) providing a better understanding about the agriculture in the downtown community, 2) growing plants for
sold to consumers, 3) raising the animals for consumption and selling, 4) mushroom cultivation, 5) growing
the vegetables upside, 6) growing rice on deck, 7) promoting the organic farming, 8) using applications the
materials as a the local technology, 9) recycling bank, 10) promoting the folk traditions and culture, and 11)
promoting the democratic way of life. As a consequence of the research, it has been rated at the highest
scale that all thirty members from 10 households perceive it, take part in it, express ownership, boost their
awareness, and propel driving forces. Additionally, characteristics of the prototype community must feature:
1) strong body groups, 2) mutual learning processes, 3) application of wisdom to solving problems and living
one’s life, and 4) regular propelling activities.