Value Added Creation and Raising the Konjac Products Standard Quality of Ban Moang Wa, Khane Chue District, Tak Province, Thailand
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Abstract
In Ban Maung Wa, Khanechue sub-district, Mae Ramat district, Tak Province, a community of farmers is dedicated to cultivating konjac, selling fresh tubers to processing factories. Their goal is to produce high-quality konjac powder without using chemical substances, thereby enhancing its value and quality. This initiative involves the production and processing sectors, knowledge development, improving agricultural product value, and fostering community sustainability. The research primarily focused on empowering the community through learning, innovative adaptation, problem-solving, and implementing the following steps: 1) Conducting community meetings and discussions with stakeholders, 2) Enhancing knowledge to boost agricultural product value and elevate community innovation (improving konjac processing, developing a powder production facility, and refining packaging and branding), 3) Developing packaging and branding to instill consumer confidence, and 4) Establishing a network of community researchers and innovators to expand knowledge. The result was the successful transformation of fresh konjac tubers into high-quality noodles and pumpkin konjac noodles under the Teemu brand. This enhancement substantially increased the selling price of fresh konjac tubers by 2 to 50 times, leading to a significant income boost for the Ban Maung Wa community. Additionally, the community improved a solar drying house for konjac processing and established a standard clean food production factory for konjac powder, enabling its use as raw material for food processing. This collaborative effort involved integrating the Ban Maung Wa community with the school network. Four konjac production and processing experts acted as trainers at the Production and Processing Learning Center for Konjac and Agricultural Products in Khanechue district. Their role was pivotal in disseminating knowledge and innovative technology, contributing significantly to community development.
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References
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