Problem and obstacle on sufficiency economy philosophy (SEP) application of people in Thonnalab community, Bandung district, Udon Thani province

Abstract

This qualitative and quantitative study aimed to explore problems encountered in the adoption of SEP of people in Thonnalab community. Questionnaire (IOC= 0.92) and in-depth interview were used for data collection conducted with 190 members obtained by simple random sampling. Content analysis was conducted and descriptive statistics was sued (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, results of the study were as follows: 1) About one-half of the informants (51.05%) were male and 39.96 years old on average. More than one-half of the informants (55.79%) were elementary school graduated, farmers and fishermen but their monthly income was less than 10,000 baht (91.58%). About one-half of the informants (49.47%) owed debt with the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives. More than one-half of the informants (52.63%) had a high level of understanding about SEP. Almost one-half of the informants (48.42%) perceived news/informants through television most and they were provided knowledge by sub-district agricultural extension workers (44.21%), 2) Most of the informants (95.79%) were Phu Thai people and proud of their Phu Thai community. They claimed that Phu Thai culture was different from outside culture (96.84%).  They were encouraged to have unity and inherit Phu Thai’s arts and culture. They stated that it was consistent with SEP (71.58%) in terms of roles of the wife towards the family and offspring teaching ( = 3.95), and 3) The informants had problems in the adoption of SEP at a high level in terms of technology, politics, resources in the community, arts/culture, and economy. The following problems were found at a moderate level: knowledge, society, and local wisdoms, respectively. Besides, the informants perceived that there was the adoption of the philosophy in their community at a highest level in 2 out of 20 items: virtue in accordance with Buddhism principles and sufficiency economy.