Evaluation of Outcomes and Impacts, and Analysis of Factors Affecting Sustainability of Changes: A Case Study of Thai Chili Landraces Networking to Develop Cultivar and Build A Farming Career Research Program

Abstract

The study was aimed to evaluate outcomes and impacts, and to analyse factors affecting the sustainability of changes of three research projects under a research program entitled “Thai chili landraces networking to develop cultivar and build a farming career”
(or “Chili Landraces Program”). The Chili Landraces Program was carried out covering upstream to downstream of chili production, that was funded by the Thailand Research Fund (TRF or current TSRI full name?) from 2012 – 2015. This study was based on qualitative research with high accuracy using the three-segment validation principle. The first segment involved collecting primary data from stakeholders ie. researchers, farmers, community leaders, local government officers and traders. The primary data were assessed via participative observation methods, in-depth group interview and small group discussion. The second secment involved further studies from previous research papers, textbooks and articles. The third segment was from secondary data collected from the TRF. The findings suggested all three projects resulted in the outcomes beneficial to both academics and farming community. The academic outcomes supported teaching, lecturers and researchers. The farming outcomes included cultivar selection, seed storage, seedling production, organic chili production and decision making for chili production. In addition, a policy outcome happened to promote organic production standards for chili and some vegetables. Only two projects had obvious impacts as well as sustainability on economy, society and environments. Based on the Triple Bottom Line, the factors found to impact sustainability were (1) knowledge transfer, whereby the knowledge gained from the project was transferred to farmers to be practical; (2) participation, whereby the involvement from farmers was the key to drive the implement guidelines on the

use of knowledge gained from research projects; and (3) constant contributions from other relevant agencies promoted sustainable economic, social and environmental changes.