QUALITY OF LIFE DEVELOPMENT OF FARMERS UNDER SUFFICIENCY ECONOMY PHILOSOPHY

Abstract

This research aimed to 1) study characteristic of agriculture according to the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy, 2) study farmers’ quality of life according to the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy in Ban Na sub district, Ban Na district, Nakhon Nayok Province, 3) build the development concept of farmers’ quality of life according to the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy, 4) tryout and assess development concept of farmers’ quality of life according to the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy in Ban Na sub district, Ban Na district, Nakhon Nayok Province. This research applies mix-method research: quantitative and qualitative. A sample group was 237 farmers’ family in Ban Na sub district, Ban Na district, Nakhon Nayok Province, and key informers were community leaders, farmers’ representatives, government sectors in Ban Na sub district, Ban Na district, Nakhon Nayok Province. The data was analyzed by descriptive statistic, numbers, percentage, means and standard deviation. Qualitative data was analyzed content according to main aspect and second aspect.

            The research result found that 1) characteristic of agriculture according to the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy found that in overall was in moderate level, and consideration in each aspect found that the highest mean score was self-sustainability, the second was new theory agriculture, increasing income, and decreasing expense. 2) farmers’ quality of life according to the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy in Ban Na sub district, Ban Na district found that in overall farmers’ quality of life was in high level, and consideration in each aspect found that the highest mean score was psychological and the second was health, society, and economy. 3) To build the development concept of farmers’ quality of life according to the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy in Ban Na sub district, consisted of (1) the characteristic of agriculture according to the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy, decreasing expense, increasing income, self-sustainability, and new theory agriculture. (2) The development processed of farmers had 4 processes: 1) knowledge training, 2) development by practicing, 3) participatory development, and 4) developing according to the new theory. (3) Farmers’ development according to the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy was divided into 3 levels, 1) self-sustainability in household level, 2) grouping of people in the community, 3) building network with external