The Agricultural Innovation Learning Center Development

Abstract

The objectives of this research were 1) to survey the resources and wisdom, way of life, traditions and agricultural culture of Ban Na Subdistrict, Ban Na District, Nakhon Nayok Province that are suitable for the development of the Agricultural Innovation Learning Center 2) to study the model of the Agricultural Innovation Learning Center of Ban Na Subdistrict, Ban Na District, Nakhon Nayok Province that was appropriate and utilizable, and 3) to drive and evaluate the utilization of the Agricultural Innovation Learning Center model. Qualitative research was used in this study. The 20 key informants involved in this study were community leaders, agriculturists, agricultural officials in Ban Na district, government agencies, and the private sector. The research tools were in-depth interviews, group discussions, and group stages. The data were analyzed on various issues by verifying the content's consistency by confirming the data and bringing it to a conclusion for presentation.

          The results presented into three issues as follows:

1. 1. The resources, wisdom, way of life, traditions and agricultural culture found that 1) most of the resources in the area were used for farming and gardening occupations. 2) local agricultural wisdom had the knowledge accumulated and inherited continuously from the past to the present. It was appropriate to the context and environment of the individual, family and community clearly, and 3) a simple way of life, tradition and culture: generosity, sharing, helping each other since the ancestor's generation. Therefore, the new generation inherited and absorbed these lifestyles according to the local traditions and culture.
2. 2. The model of the Agricultural Innovation Learning Center of Ban Na Subdistrict, Ban Na District, Nakhon Nayok Province that was appropriate and utilizable found into eight aspects as follows: 1) the learning characteristics, 2) the learning process of agriculturists and people in the community, 3) the activities participation in Agricultural Innovation Learning Center, 4) the knowledge and readiness for learning of agriculturists and people in the community, 5)the community leaders in managing the operations of the learning center, 6) the participation in the management of the Agricultural Innovation Learning Center, 7) the facilities, materials, instructional materials, and budgets, and 8) the role-model agriculturists have knowledge, capabilities and experiences in transferring agricultural knowledge.
3. 3. The results of using the model of the Agricultural Innovation Learning Center that was appropriate and utilizable were due to the analytical process: the trend of Agricultural Innovation Learning Center development, the investigation of learning center and the villagers' needs, internal and external environments of the learning center, the Agricultural Innovation Learning Center trial, and the participation of government agencies, the private sectors and the public sectors. As a result of this process, it was possible to set some goals to the successfulness. Finally, the people realized the potential of their community;  loved and appreciated in their local community regarding the way of life, tradition and culture.