Research and Development of Community Enterprise Product in Reeds Woven Mats Group; Kamphai Sub-District Thaicharoen District Yasothon Province

Abstract

The purposes of this research were 1. to study the current status of reed mat weaving and problems and needs of the reed mat weaving group to develop community enterprise products in Kamphai sub-district, Thai Charoen District, Yasothon province; 2. to find out the guidelines to develop community enterprise products in Kamphai sub-district, Thai Charoen District, Yasothon province; and 3. to develop community enterprise products in Kamphai   sub-district,Thai Charoen District, Yasothon province. This research employed both quantitative and qualitative research designs. The quantitative data was collected from 100 customers who bought reed mats. These participants were obtained from using the W.G Cochran sampling techniques (these techniques were used because there were no exact numbers of the customers who bought reed mats and there was no record of them). The questionnaire asking about the purchasing behaviors and purchasing demand of the customers who bought reed mat products were used to collect the data. Statistics used for analyzing the quantitative data were percentage Standard Deviation and frequency; whereas, content analysis was used for analyzing the qualitative data. The qualitative data was collected from groups of people whose works relate to proposing guidelines to develop the quality of reed mat which include a committee and 10 members of reed mat weaving group. Other participants were people who concerned with the quality development of reed mat products which included the director of Social Welfare Division of Kamphai Sub-district administration office, development officers of Thaicharoen District, Chief of Thaicharoen District Agricultural Extension Office, and 50 customers who bought reed mat products who were obtained by purposive sampling. A brainstorming session, an in-depth interview, a focus-group conversation, and a participatory observation were used to obtain qualitative data. The results of the research were as follows. 1) The knowledge of reed mat weaving of the reed mat weaving group in Kamphai sub-district was the traditional way of living for people in the community that has been passed on from generations to generations through making the products, observing how the products were made, participating in making the products and reed mat weaving analysis. 2) Weaving reed mat in Khit pattern (Continuous Supplementary Weft) is done by modifying the loom and the pick-up stick. The patterns of reed mat were the application of the clothes’ pattern with anything that is found in the area. There are five steps in weaving reed mats; preparing materials, designing patterns, weaving mats, folding mat tails and decorating the mats. 3) Currently, Kamphai reed mat weaving group has produced different reed mat products including folding mats, bags, vases, hats, tissue boxes, pillow cases, coaster sets, multi-purpose boxes, mattress and cushions. 4) Problems found were on personnel resources, budget, materials and management. 5) In terms of need, it was found that the weaving group wanted to have unique reed mat patterns of the community, patent certificate of the mat pattern, more attractive packages to increase the price, brochure to promote the products and training sessions to increase skills in standardizing the products. They also want to integrate the reed mats with other products, have stable markets and places to distribute the products and promote the products through social network. In addition, they want the government’s continuous support.  On the other hand, curtain was a kind of household utility needed by the customers for their households, hotels and offices (32%). Sofa sets and pictures or letters made of woven reed mat was a kind of home decorations needed by the customers for decorating homes, hotels and offices (36%).  Dining table decorating items was a kind of dining room decoration needed by the customers for their dining room (43%), and purses and bags were needed as souvenirs (37%). 6) In terms of the guidelines for improving reed mats, it was found that there should be a training session to increase skills in natural color dyeing, transforming products from woven reed mat and creating new product patterns. For the transformation of the reed mat products, there should be an integration between the reed mat products and other materials, as well asthe registration for the certificate of the standard community product. For the pattern design, the designed patterns should be animal figures on Kathin flags which include crocodiles, fish, centipedes and turtles. There should also be a registration of patent for reed mat patterns. 7) In terms of the development of reed mats, it was found that there were two ways to develop it; pattern design and product transformation.