Formulating and Moving Forward Community Strategies for Sustainable Agricultural Development of Small-scale Farming Communities in Bo Kluea Tai Sub-district, Bo Kluea District, Nan Province

Abstract

This study focused on the formulation and execution of strategies for small-scale farming communities for sustainable agricultural development and their results. The participatory action research was conducted from August 2012 to July 2017. Two target communities, namely, Ban Pha Kub and Ban Phak Hueak in Bo Kluea District, Nan Province, were selected by using voluntary sampling technique. Findings revealed that community members identified five interrelated strategies for sustainable agricultural development. They were: 1) using and managing land and water resources systematically for agricultural production; 2) securing agricultural career and income; 3) creating food and nutrition safety and security; 4) enhancing marketing capacity for agricultural products; and 5) strengthening competencies of agricultural households and community organizations. These strategies were implemented by target communities and 24 partners from government and private sectors, local administrative offices, non-governmental organizations, and educational institutions who signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 7 March 2013 for a two-year strategies execution. Findings revealed that strategies were frequently and independently conducted by participating agencies based upon their expertise, interests, budget and time availability. Work collaboration occurred in some occasion but enabled desired changes in these communities on a self-reliance basis and the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy. After the MOU was terminated, both communities continued to mobilize their strategies on self-reliance basis. As such, they discovered their own capability in making desired changes with less dependence on others. Researchers, then, suggested these small-scale farming communities to further apply intensively the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy as concepts and practices to become true self-reliance communities at various levels for sustainable development.