Guidelines to Promote the Potentials of Woven Reed Mats Community Enterprise in Sakaeo Province Through Community Participation

Abstract

The purposes of this research were: 1) the contextual information, potential, social capital and current problems of the mat weaving community enterprises in Sa Kaeo Province; 2) the factors leading to the success of the mat weaving community enterprises in Sa Kaeo Province; 3) the guidelines for strengthening the potential of mat weaving community enterprises in Sa Kaeo Province that emphasize community’s participation. This research uses mixed methodologies. The subjects of this research are the mat weaving enterprises in Sa Kaeo Province, consisting of the Ban Phra Phloeng Mat Weaving and Processing Community Enterprise, Phra Phloeng Subdistrict, Khao Chakan District, Sa Kaeo Province; the Ban Khlong Sip Sam Mat Weaving Community Enterprise, Khao Samsip Subdistrict, Khao Chakan District, Sa Kaeo Province; and the Lai Thong Mat Weaving Community Enterprise, Nong Muang Subdistrict, Khok Sung District, Sa Kaeo Province. Participants consist of 7 people from each enterprise, consisting of their president or representative, totaling 21 people; and 2 district agricultural officers who supervise the subdistrict, totaling 23 people, using the descriptive data analysis model.
The results revealed that:
1. Community enterprises have potential in terms of beautiful mat weaving techniques and sufficiency of raw materials for production. However, there are still problems in operations, such as elderly members, which affects group development and product distribution channels.
2. Factors leading to the success of the mat weaving community enterprises in Sa Kaeo Province include management, leadership, production, marketing, capital, members and communities, knowledge and data management, and external interactions.
3. Guidelines for enhancing the potential of mat weaving community enterprises in Sa Kaeo Province that emphasize community’s participation include networking of community enterprises, family-based operation of community enterprises, and the use of “Community Enterprise Innovation Learning Centers”.