Devotion output of community market development on farmer groups in Na Noi District, Nan Province

Abstract

Following the implementation of community market promotion and development initiatives aimed at enhancing farmers' potential in Na Noi District, Nan Province, this research primarily aimed to analyze the impact of community market development on farmers' livelihood assets. A mixed-methods research approach was employed. Data collection involved 104 community enterprise members from 2023 to 2024, a period reflecting continuous adaptation following the development. Qualitative data were gathered through in-depth interviews and focus groups, while quantitative data were collected via semi-structured interviews using a retrospective recall technique to compare conditions before and after market development. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired-sample t-test. The findings revealed that the majority of farmers were female, with an average age of 51 years. The average annual income from the community market was 42,894.23 THB, against an average production cost of 16,235.72 THB. Qualitative results indicated that the community market functions as a "learning space" and a social socialization mechanism that transforms farmers' roles into market managers through digital networks. These findings were consistent with quantitative results, which showed that after development, all five dimensions of livelihood assets increased significantly at the 0.01 level. Notably, social assets (x̄ increased from 2.99 to 4.17) and human assets (x̄ increased from 2.83 to 3.91) demonstrated prominent improvements in management skills and collective action, supported by the training frequency, averaging 2.5 sessions per year. This was accompanied by financial assets (x̄ increased from 3.02 to 3.90), which showed profitability with an income margin significantly exceeding costs, serving as a vital foundation for resilience and self-reliance. Furthermore, physical assets (x̄ increased from 3.00 to 3.89) and natural assets (x̄ increased from 3.13 to 3.84) also showed significant increases. In conclusion, community market development serves as a crucial mechanism for tangibly and sustainably enhancing farmers' livelihood assets.