Abstract
This
study aims to 1) classify community products according to local wisdom of
community enterprises in U-thong district, 2) study the readiness for product
development with local wisdom, 3) select the prototype of potential community
enterprises for product development, 4) study the limitations and obstacles to
product development with local wisdom, and 5) study the direction of community
enterprises’ potential development for local wisdom product development.
Qualitative data gathering is interviewing the key informants of involved
government offices, local administrative organizations, community enterprises’
presidents, and focus groups are conducted among communities’ leaders and
community enterprises’ members. The community products in U-thong are classified
as processed agricultural products, organic products, farm animals, souvenirs,
clothes, and household items. The potential factors of community enterprises,
covering 13 sub-districts, total 105 villages, 20 villages were selected with
their products linking to local wisdom and their identity. The results of the
study of potential variables of community enterprises from relevant research
findings and theoretical concepts, two prototypes of potential community
enterprises were found; one is local wisdom products linked to ethnic cultural
identity and another is organic agricultural products that are selected with
qualified potential factors. The limitations and obstacles to product
development with local wisdom is the lack of participation since most members
are farmers and elderly people which has time and health constraints. The
direction of community enterprises’ potential development is to learn for
planning, and actual implementation of the plan with an emphasis on the
principles “community owned and operated” and uses raw materials, resources,
capital, labor in the community.
Keywords: Potential,
Community Enterprise, Product Development, Local Wisdom