การพัฒนาทรัพยากรท้องถิ่นเพื่อสร้างมูลค่าเพิ่มทางเศรษฐกิจ : กรณีศึกษาตำบลตากูก อำเภอเขวาสินรินทร์ จังหวัดสุรินทร์ Development of Local Resources for Economic Value Added : A Case Study of Takook Subdistrict, Khwao Sinarin District, Surin Province

Abstract

This research entitled “Development of Local Resources for Economic Value Added : A Case Study of Takook Subdistrict, Khwao Sinarin District, Surin Province” aimed to: (1) analyze the potential of local resources in Takook Subdistrict, Khwao Sinarin District, Surin Province; (2) develop community products from local resources through participatory community processes and enhance their commercial competitiveness; (3) assess the economic feasibility of the developed products using Cost–Benefit Analysis (CBA); and (4) evaluate the outcomes of community product development in terms of household income changes and community strengthening. The research utilized a mixed-methods approach combined with Participatory Action Research (PAR) as the fundamental framework driving the development activities. A total of 35 participants were intentionally chosen from stakeholders involved in local resource use, comprising community entrepreneurs, leaders, local knowledge experts, and representatives from households in Takook Subdistrict. Participants were actively Involved in every phase of the PAR method, including analyzing resource potential, planning, product development and testing, evaluation, and shared reflection. Data collection tools included thorough interviews, group discussions, surveys, and forms for recording product cost-benefit data. These tools were validated through the Index of Item-Objective Congruence (IOC ≥ 0.76) and exhibited strong reliability with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.87. Qualitative information was analyzed via thematic content analysis, and triangulation methods were used, while quantitative information was processed using descriptive statistics, paired samples t-test, and Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA). A discount rate of 7% annually was implemented based on yields from Thai government bonds and fixed deposit interest rates from commercial banks as of fiscal year 2024. The results indicated that mulberry leaves and local herbs showed the most  Potential for product development, achieving a high overall potential rating ( = 4.00, S.D. = 0.62). The PAR process was highly effective in product development (  = 4.25, S.D.=0.56), illustrating that community involvement is essential for establishing location-specific products. The added economic value analysis revealed that processing of these products amplified the worth of raw materials by about five to six times. When compared to similar market offerings, community products had reduced production expenses owing to the benefits of direct access to local materials. The findings from the CBA demonstrated that both products were economically viable, with benefit-cost ratios exceeding one (BCR = 1.80 and 1.78, respectively). Household income rose by 16%, and the paired samples t-test validated that the income after development was significantly greater than the income before development (t = 5.89, p < 0.01). Significantly, the rise in household earnings cannot be credited solely to enhanced value-added processing; it stemmed from the combination of three interconnected factors: generating value through processing, collaborative efforts that minimized unit expenses and enhanced negotiating power, and the social capital developed through the PAR process, which encouraged trust and effective division of labor among members of the community. The research provides fresh empirical data illustrating that PAR serves not only as a method for product development but also as a tool for creating production benchmarks. Furthermore, the sustainable competitive edge of Takook community products is rooted in the community's governance over the supply chain of raw materials, resulting in production costs that are considerably lower than market options. The results indicate that governmental bodies and local administrative entities should advocate for the development of resource-oriented products while also providing assistance for quality certification, identity-centered branding, and economic networking to enhance grassroots economies and promote long-term sustainable community growth.