“The advocacy, promotion, and implementation of rural development projects in the rural communities guided by Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) are appropriate, highly doable, and realistic, and answers the problems and needs of the household members as well as those of the communities.”
Ms.Nawarat Pourpan, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) PhD Research Grantee, presented her study titled “Sufficiency Economy Philosophy Process Implementation and Outcomes: The Case of Naso,Yasothon Province, Thailand” on13 December 2011 as part ofSEARCA’s Agriculture and Development Seminar Series .
In her presentation, Ms.Pourpan introduced "Sufficiency Economy", which emphasizes the step-by-step approach that results in balanced and sustainable development. The approachwas developed by His Majesty King Bhumibol of Thailand, to achieve economic development. According to Ms. Pourpan, the framework of SEP involves three principles, namely moderation, reasonableness, and self-immunity (against the risks which arise from internal or external change), in which project development and implementation are guided by.
The SEP stresses that it will work best if based on the application of appropriate knowledge and if enhanced by ethics or moral values. This then leads to economic, social, cultural, and environmental benefits, as manifested in the 10 SEP projects established from 1980 to 2004 in Thailand.
Hence, Ms. Pourpan concluded that SEP can be promoted in Thailand’s rural villages as it is an effective guide in project development. (Jobelle Mae L. Zuraek)