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Sufficiency economy policy and agricultural extension service in Phrae Province, Thailand
Dissertation Abstract:
The study was primarily designed to describe the Sufficiency Economy Policy (SEP) of the government and its implications on the agricultural extension service in Tambon Mae Lai, Amphur Muang, Phrae Province, Thailand. The specific objectives were: (1) to describe farmers’ constructs and operationalization of the three components of the SEP; (2) to analyze the influence of the three components of the SEP (moderation, reasonableness, and self-immunity) on the agricultural extension service in Tambon Mae Lai, particularly on extension programs, clientele, field personnel, and communication strategy; (3) to identify perceived strengths and weaknesses of the existing agricultural extension service in Tambon Mae Lai under the SEP particularly on extension program, clientele, field personnel, and communication strategy; and (4) to propose guidelines for agricultural extension service in Tambon Mae Lai that support the SEP of the government.
The study found that all case farmers believe and commit to goodness and Buddha’s discourse as their usual practices in their daily lives. Most of case farmers avoid betting in lotto, gambling, and drinking alcohol. They indicated their reason by explaining causes and effects of particular phenomena. Most case farmers consider their current budget before making buying decisions. They generate more income by implementing supportive occupations as well as consuming their own products and reduce some reducible costs. The emergent theory resulted from the ground theorizing method indicated two different groups of SEP practitioners: (1) strong SEP practitioner, and (2) weak SEP practitioner. The three components of the SEP influenced the agricultural extension service in three dimensions: (1) theoretical influence, (2) methodological influence, and (3) content influence. The perceived strengths and weaknesses of the existing agricultural extension service appeared within: (1) program objective, (2) program activity, (3) characteristics of the clientele, (4) characteristics of field personnel, (5) extension-communication message, and (6) communication approach. The study proposed guidelines for agricultural extension service composed of four main extension phases: (1) need assessment, (2) program planning, (3) program implementation, and (4) program evaluation.