Self Reliance of Community Enterprises in Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

     This study was conducted to investigate: 1) socio-economic attributes of community enterprises in Chiang Mai province 2) a level of self-reliance of the community enterprises 3) factors effecting self-reliance of the community enterprises 4) To study the problems, obstacles and recommendations on the self-reliance of community enterprises in Chiang Mai comprised 253 groups in 7 districts (unit of analysis). Each group consisted of the president, secretary, treasurer and member. A set of questionnaires was used for data collection administered with one representative of each group. Obtained data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and Multiple regression.
     Results of the study revealed that each community enterprise group had 15.56 member on average; The average age of community enterprise members is 45.81 years and they were upper secondary school graduates. They had established the groups for 5.33 years on average and 31.35 percent were agricultural groups. More than one. Half of the community enterprise groups 64.82 percent were basis ones in terms of a level of business. Most of the community enterprise groups 83.39 percent gained capital through fund assembly with the group. Each group sold products of their group and 24.08 percent focused on made to order. They had an annual circulating capital participation for 231,181.82 baht, and 36.36 percent, participation of members of the community enterprise groupres. There were communication and opinion exchange within the group 72.33 percent. More than one-half of the community enterprises 64.82 percent joined a training but 63.63 percent no work binding. In terms of sell-reliance of the community enterprises, as a whole, it was found at a high level: Spirit(Mind), socially/culture, natural resource, technology and economy, respectively. Age of group members a level of business and participation in operation had a positive relationship with self-reliance of the community enterprises. However, group type had a negative relationship with self-reliance of the community enterprises. Some groups of the community enterprises lacked of modern technology for production and food preservation. Besides, the COVID 19 pandemic had an effect on worriness and decreased incomes. Some community enterprises group did not have enough raw materials for production while some did not have knowledge transfer to new generations. For suggestions, the public sector should support technology and the community should hold encouragement activities such as flea market. In addition, it should have the extension of networks between the community enterprises and raw material producers both inside and outside the community. People in the community should be promoted to produce raw materials. Lastly, the Agriculture District office should promote new generations to be aware of local wisdom conservation.