Guidelines for organizing activities to develop knowledge and life skills according to the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy of Farmers in Don Rak Subdistrict Nong Chik District Pattani Province.

Abstract

This research consists purposes were 1. to study the problems and needs in terms of knowledge and life skills according to the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy of farmers in Don Rak Sub-district, Nong Chik District, Pattani Province. 2. was to investigate approaches to organize training for developing knowledge and skills of Sufficiency Economy Philosophy relevant with the needs of farmers in Don Rak Subdistrict, Nong Chik District, Pattani Province. The researchers applied qualitative technique to collect the data. Semi-structured interview was a tool.  The number of target group was 14 farmers in Don Rak Sub-district. Content analysis was utilized to analyze the data. The study found that 1) there were 2 problems impacted to the farmers. Insufficient knowledge and understanding about Sufficiency Economy Philosophy and New Theory Agriculture Principles was the first problem. Therefore, knowledge and understanding of the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy was important. The second barrier was high production cost but low product price. The farmers were not able to control household consumption expenditure. Therefore, it is necessary to develop skills in making organic fertilizers in order to reduce agricultural costs and also reducing household consumption expenditure. 2) The approaches for training to develop knowledge and skills of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy are consisted of, firstly, training to provide knowledge and understanding of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy and principles of integrated farming system. Organizing workshop for making organic fertilizer to help reduce costs of agricultural activities is the second pathway.