Quality and Value Enhancement of Dried Rice Noodle Curry Sauce Through Community Based Participatory Development: A Case Study of Ban Nongkhaen Community Maha Sarakham Province

Abstract

This research consists purposes were 1. to examine the contextual conditions, sociocultural capital, and potential of Ban Nong Khaen community in developing dried rice-noodle curry products 2. to analyze the community participation processes across the value chain from raw material selection, processing, product formulation, and packaging design to marketing channel development and 3. to propose sustainable approaches to enhancing product standards, quality and value through participatory mechanisms and community-based innovation. This study employed a mixed-methods research design, integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches. The research instruments consisted of a questionnaire and an interview guide. The sample comprised 120 participants, and the target group included 15 key informants, selected through purposive sampling. The data collected from the questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including percentages, means, and standard deviations. The data obtained from the interviews and relevant documents were analyzed using content analysis. The research findings revealed that 1) Market demand received the highest mean score (4.4), followed by raw material quality (4.2), processing skills (3.8), and readiness and packaging (3.5) 2) Regarding community participation in the production chain and quality development of dried fermented rice noodles with curry sauce, the findings indicated high levels across all dimensions (1) Taste (mean = 4.45), (2) Convenience of consumption (mean = 4.52), (3) Safety (mean = 4.30), (4) Packaging (mean = 4.25) and (5) Purchase intention (mean = 4.40) and 3) Concerning guidelines for sustainable product development in terms of standards, quality, and value, the comparative evaluation of product value before and after development revealed an increase of 35 percent. The research findings confirm that community participation serves as a key mechanism for enhancing product quality and sustainably creating added value. The integration of local wisdom with scientific knowledge plays a crucial role in improving production efficiency, enhancing packaging safety, promoting consumer acceptance, and concretely expanding market channels.