Guidelines for implementing the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) to enhance the quality of life perception among farmers in Djakotomey District, Republic of Benin

บทคัดย่อ

This mixed-methods research investigated the guidelines for implementing the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) to enhance the perception of quality of life (QoL) among farmers in Djakotomey District, Republic of Benin. Research instruments, including questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions, and lessons learned, were utilized to collect data. Participants consisted of two groups: (1) 17 experienced farmers from the Huay Tong community, Mae Wang District, Thailand, and (2) 24 farmers from Djakotomey District, Republic of Benin, who engaged in SEP-integrated vocational and agricultural training programs facilitated by experts from the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) between 2019 and 2022. The results revealed significant (P<0.05) improvements in farmers' quality of life perceptions in both contexts. In Thailand, scores increased from 1.74±0.104 to 4.67±0.063 (out of 5), while in Republic of Benin, they increased from 1.91±0.239 to 3.97±0.300. A significant (P<0.05) correlation between QoL perception and SEP understanding was observed in both groups, as represented by the equation QoL = 1.320 + 0.663 SEP, with an r² value of 0.624.  These findings indicated that participation in SEP training significantly enhanced QoL perception. The study identified key guidelines for SEP implementation, including understanding SEP principles, integrating SEP into vocational and agricultural training, promoting knowledge sharing and community empowerment, fostering financial management skills, and fostering partnerships between government and community entities.