CONTEXT, POTENTIAL, PROBLEMS AND NEEDS OF VILLAGERS : A CASE STUDY IN CHOM SI VILLAGE, PHEN DISTRICT

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to study the context, potential, problems and public needs in Ban Chom Si, Chom Si Sub-distict, Phen District, Udon Thani Province. The key informants from the target population were household representative persons including village leaders, community philosophers and professional group representatives. Quantitative data was collected from questionnaire and statistically analyzed with mean, percentile and average. Qualitative data was collected by observations, in-depth interviews, records and participant observations, and group discussion. Data was analyzed systematically using content analysis, and was processed with interpretation and inductive analysis.

The finding was as follows: Ban Chom Si has the population of 854 with mostly single families and an aging or elderly society. Most members of the village work abroad. In the village, there are public services: Ban Chom Si School, Chom Si Children Development Center, and Office of the Non-formal and Informal Education. After compulsory schooling, children prefer to study further in vocational fields, and then work in large cities. There are non-communicable diseases found here, some traditions and beliefs have disappeared. Most of them were Buddhists; prayering before bedtime, alms giving to Buddhist monks, merit making on shaving days and Buddhist holy days, and an observing of religious precepts. The traditions found here include Bun Ban merit-making, Songkran festival, the End of Buddhist Lent, Bun Khao Pradabdin and Bun Khao Sak Rituals, and Bun Pha Wet. For Economics, most of the people in Ban Chom Si grow rice, sugarcane, rubber trees, melons, beans, mushrooms and local vegetables. They catch freshwater fish in natural water sources; raise cattle, pigs, ducks and chicken; do basketry such as mats and hats for their own use and for sale. They process food such as sour pork, beef and fish, sour bamboo shoot and fermented fish. Some laborers are employed in rice farming, and some harvest sugar cane. Most houses have televisions, rice cookers and motorcycles at their disposal, social capital on the individual (micro) level, there are many leaders: monks (as spiritual leaders of Buddhism), the village chief of Ban Chom Si, village health volunteers, folk medicine healers, and soil improvement volunteers. On the community or society (macro) level, the village possesses many different funds such as a cremation fund, a waste fund, a village fund, an elderly fund, a professional fund and the Queen Sirikit Fund. The auxiliary offices for social capital include Sub-district Health Promoting Hospital to offer health services; Administrative Organizations of Chom Si Sub-district and Phen District to develop Chom Si district in various ways including economically, socially and culturally; Udon Thani province for the implementation of government policies and practices. Udon Thani Rajabhat University has organized the Village Development Partnership Project and, as part of the project, provides academic support, research and on-demand services. Community resource capital. Includes Dong Petsakhu Community Forest Lan Prapheni and village public Pavilion. The place is Dhamma Retreat. Sam-nak-song Dong Sa-khu Pu Khiao Shrine Mug Swamp and Cemetery.

The results of the study on the context, potential, problems and public needs in Ban Chom Si comprised: 1) “Nawatwithi” OTOP Community Tourism project. Udon Thani province has promoted Nawatawithi OTOP villages in the “Aeng Lek Check-in Tua Thin Udon Project” and connected the routes of secondary tourist cities to primary tourist cities. Of 5 OTOP community tourism routes, Chom Si is the fourth route. It is connected to 4 districts. For Resources and possibility of development. Include Peacocks and buffaloes. There are approximately 200 peacocks living in Dong Petsakhu Community Forest. Villagers raise water buffalos and let them graze late in the morning. They leave them in Lan Prapheni by the Mug swamp where the buffalos usually go, drink water and rest in the dry area. Community Forest in Ban Chom Si. The forest has won a Green Globe Award and has developed into a natural trail and learning resource. OTOP in Ban Chom Si. OTOP products are processed food (sour pork, sour beef, and sour giant snake-head fish) and will need to be developed to achieve Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and to have attractive packaging, both unique and traditional as well as homestays. 2) For health problems in Ban Chom Si, many elderlies in the village suffers from high blood pressure and diabetes. There are also other diseases that need to be monitored such as tuberculosis and rabies. The problem requires a change in living habits. Hence, health development guidelines should be focused on changing behavior first. 3) For Pesticide Residue Problem, blood test results have shown that 52.19 percent of villagers in Chom Sri are at risk of consuming contaminated food. This is due to the villagers’ continuous use of chemical fertilizers and insecticides. Health development guidelines should include workshops to raise awareness of chemical hazards, as well as to provide them with ways to promote safe agriculture.