Community Potentiality in Strengthening Local Economy by the Civil State Approach Based on Participatory Sufficiency Economy Philosophy in Chaiyaphum province

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to study the context and general conditions of local economy and to study community potentiality in   strengthening local economy by the civil state approach based on participatory sufficiency economy philosophy in Chaiyaphum province. This was qualitative research. The research tool was in-depth interview. The key informants were 52 committee and village fund members. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis method.

The results revealed that

according to the context and general conditions of the local economy in Chaiyaphum province, the projects in which the village and community funds in Chaiyaphum province had proposed for approval were mostly about agricultural management, fertilizers, insecticides and seeds: 42.40%, followed by community management projects: 19.57% and community shop projects: 7.18 percent, respectively. The potential of community in strengthening local economy by the civil state approach based on the participatory sufficiency economy philosophy include the following. 1) Community potentiality:  people in the community had a wide range of knowledge and experience, resulting from the accumulation of experience of each person. They also exchanged knowledge and learned from each other from the operation they had done together and the results were used as the lessons and knowledge of the community in solving problems to meet the needs of the community. 2) Potential and roles of the fund for developing local economy were as follows. (1) The fund committee must adhere to the five moral principles: being honest with each other, trusting each other, being sacrificed, and having shared responsibility and being sympathetic. (2) Knowledge: the fund committee were trained or supported for study visits on fund management. (3) Management: 4 committees were appointed for management. Civil state volunteers were also appointed to follow up and check the operation and report the results of the project operation to the relevant authorities.