The guidelines strengthening border community food security in special economic zone of Chiangrai province

Abstract

The research entitled "Guidelines Strengthening Border Community Food Security in Special Economic Zone of ChiangRai Province" aimed to study the situation of food security, the factors affecting food security, and the guidelines to strengthen the food security. The research was implemented by using mixed methods. The data were collected by using a questionnaire which was examined by the experts, as well as from the interview and focus group. The data collection was done in three steps. The first step was using a questionnaire with the sample group which was chosen by the simple random sampling. The second step was using Multiple Linear Regression to analyze the factors affecting food security, and the third step was implementing the focus group to find the guidelines to strengthen the food security and evaluate the guidelines by the experts.

The results of the study were found that, in general, the sample group had high food security classified by sufficiency, access, and usage (Mean = 4.00, 3.79, and 4.09 respectively). However, stability had an average level of food security (Mean = 2.77). The results from the analysis of Multiple Linear Regression were found that the factors affecting food security could explain the food security for 25.9 % (R2 = 0.259, P = 0.05). The most important factor was income, followed by the vegetable garden, the number of family members, and age were ranked respectively.

The results from the focus group and the evaluation of the guidelines to strengthen the food security appeared that in the area level, the establishment the knowledge for growing non-chemical plants and the awareness of the consumers on the different appearance of plants with pesticide residue-free should be done. The organic plants market should be organized and spread the awareness to the public. The guidelines to strengthen the food security in the regional level appeared that the framework on the promotion of growing non-chemical plants to save the environment and establish the sustainability of the food production should be set as the policy, moreover, the connection between tourism and non-chemical plant production should be established to develop the food chain.