Local Wisdom Inheritance to the Development of Tha Chin River Community Business, the Lower central Province Cluster 1 A case study of Bangmaemai community

Abstract

The objective of this research was to study Bangmaemai community context, its products, local wisdom experts, transferring coconut fiber brooms and wisdom inheritance in producing the brooms to develop the community business. The research was conducted at Bangmaemai community, Bangyai subdistrict, Bangplama district, Suphanburi province using participant and non-participant observations; formal and informal interviews about the background of the community, the collaborative learning among the researchers and the community about the wisdom of coconut fiber broom including community’s map and SWOT analysis. The main informants consisted of 4 wisdom experts, 9 coconut fiber broom inheritors, 3 academics, and 4 local leaders/entrepreneurs. The results of the research showed that the community context was a simple, peaceful natural way of life. Coconut fiber broom products were considered products that reflected the identity unique to Bangmaemai community and Thai local wisdom. The brooms were registered Thai local wisdom with knowledge type of the local groups, in the field of producing waste products under the title “100-year broom of Bang Mae Mai” with the Department of Intellectual Property, Kor Por 38. The local wisdom experts inherited the knowledge from their ancestors. Each of them had been making brooms for over 40 years. At present, they transferred the knowledge to young people and those who were interested by being experts on the local curriculum of making coconut fiber brooms in order to inherit local knowledge to develop community businesses. From the analysis of advantages of Bangmaemai coconut fiber brooms, the manufacturers inherited the knowledge from their ancestors for a long time and still continuously passed on the wisdom, comparing to other manufacturers according to the name list of people who received the Community Product Standard Certification Mor Por Chor441/2547 during 2005-2013. The coconut fiber brooms were manufactured in 3 provinces with differences. When analyzing for SWOT, it was found that the products had strengths because of their uniqueness, the transfer of the wisdom in the community from ancestors, and the products being made from local and natural materials. Moreover, the succession of broom making wisdom in the community can be continuously developed in the form of business of manufacturing according to the purchase order. Wisdom should be inherited to the new generation. Currently, making the brooms, following the sufficient economy for living, leads to an additional income from extra work after rice farming.