The Cooperation in Bamboo Preservation and Promoting Local Wisdom Awareness and Inheritance: Case Study of Buntharik District, Ubonratchathani

Abstract

This research aims to 1) study the history, management, and the production process from bamboo products of community in Buntharik District, Ubonratchathani, and 2) find out the methods to preserve bamboo by cooperating with people in community in Buntharik District, Ubonratchathani. The research methodology is qualitative research. The key informants were the woman group of sticky rice steaming basket weaving in community in Buntharik. The subjects were selected by using purposive sampling method. The instruments used in the research were in-depth interview, participant observation, non-participant observation, focus group discussion, and group brainstorming session (information for community session). The data were analyzed in descriptive analysis. The result of the study in history,
management, production process, and product selling of bamboo in
community in Buntharik, Ubonratchathani, showed that the activity is interesting for community members and other organizations inside and outside the community and they cooperatively run the activity together. The history of the sticky rice steaming basket group revealed that the villagers got knowledge of various weaving bamboo products including sticky rice container, fish basket, fish container, and bamboo basket. Previously, the weaving product is made in the traditional pattern. The government
organization then came to the community and supported and helped develop the products patterns to be more interesting. Consequently, Sang-Udom agriculturists cooperated together and established Sang-Udom woman group of sticky rice steaming basket weaving. Now, the group has 38 members.The products are made in 3 patterns consisting of rough pattern, graphic pattern, and small bamboo stripes pattern. The can make about 1,000 – 4,000 baht a month from selling products. The management is done by setting rules and administrators. The effective and reliable administrators are selected by the members. The administrators consist of director committee, marketing committee, production control committee, recruitment committee, and supporting committee. The materials that are important for the production are bamboo, sharp tip knife, water, big knife, saw, and scissors. The styles of the sticky rice steaming basket consist of 3 pattern styles: “Pae” style or white basket, “Kang” style, and “Mee” style. The production process includes bamboo selection, cutting bamboo into pieces, smoking bamboo piece, cutting bamboo pieces into stripes, setting the basket structure, weaving, adding graphic pattern, adding glue, wrapping basket, collecting baskets together, determining product price, planning for selling, and selling. The group members always study and plan for marketing to determine the price whether it is suitable and not to be too low for selling to the middleman. The sticky rice steaming baskets will be collected to sell on every Monday and Friday at the group office. The committees will check the quality of and small bamboo stripes pattern. The can make about 1,000 – 4,000 baht a month from selling products. The management is done by setting rules and administrators. The effective and reliable administrators are selected by the members. The administrators consist of director committee, marketing committee, production control committee, recruitment committee, and supporting committee. The materials that are important for the production are bamboo, sharp tip knife, water, big knife, saw, and scissors. The styles of the sticky rice steaming basket consist of 3 pattern styles: “Pae” style or white basket, “Kang” style, and “Mee” style. The production process includes bamboo selection, cutting bamboo into pieces, smoking bamboo piece, cutting bamboo pieces into stripes, setting the basket structure, weaving, adding graphic pattern, adding glue, wrapping basket, collecting baskets together, determining product price, planning for selling, and selling. The group members always study and plan for marketing to determine the price whether it is suitable and not to be too low for selling to the middleman. The sticky rice steaming baskets will be collected to sell on every Monday and Friday at the group office. The committees will check the quality of  the products before buying them from the members. After that the basket will be bound together and further sold to the middleman. There is also the  bamboo preservation method by cooperating with people in Buntharik, Ubonratchathani, and the Provincial Agricultural Extension Office cooperates for providing bamboo to grow in the community area. Moreover, the group members also recommended to create bamboo preservation media (i.e. brochure) to publicize the ways to grow bamboo, to show its benefits, and to raise the awareness and caring for bamboo in community.