Developing the Capability of Community Innovator in Managing Waste Agricultural By-products in Chiang Rai Province

บทคัดย่อ

This research aims to generate income for communities from waste Agricultural By-products and evaluate changes in social knowledge and technology, using the Learning Innovation Platform (LIP) concept and creating collaborative Learning Spaces. The target group for this research is longan farmers in areas facing recurring burning problems and poverty in Mae Suay and Wiang Pa Pao districts, Chiang Rai province. Fifty community innovators were selected from 10 sub-districts to participate in three practical training activities: constructing low-pollution wood vinegar and charcoal kilns, product quality inspection, and marketing. Research findings show that (1) communities gained a total additional income of 103,140 baht from 191 uses of the charcoal kilns over 4 months, with each community experiencing varying increases in income; (2) the Societal Readiness Level (SRL) of the community innovators increased from level 1 to level 4 across all dimensions: collaboration networks, knowledge and technology, and community learning process management. Community innovators became capable of mobilizing local resources, adapting technology to their traditional knowledge, and functioning as learning facilitators. This research demonstrates success in generating income and developing community potential through efficient management of waste agricultural by-products. Before researching, the Societal Readiness Level (SRL) of community innovators was at level 1: which means community innovators were aware of waste agricultural by-product management uneducated problems. They could analyze problem root causes and jointly determine guidelines for solving community problems.

After researching, the Societal Readiness Level (SRL) of community innovators is at level 4: which means as follows 1) Community innovators have waste agricultural by-product management knowledge and skills. Start by collecting branches of various sizes obtained from pruning longan trees and then request burn permission by registering in the Burn Check application every time before using the kiln. 2) Community innovators have the knowledge and skills to construct and use a low-pollution wood vinegar and charcoal kiln. and 3) Community innovators have marketing and organizing groups into community enterprises' knowledge and skills.