Abstract

  This study aims to 1) classify community products according to local wisdom of community enterprises in U-thong district, 2) study the readiness for product development with local wisdom, 3) select the prototype of potential community enterprises for product development, 4) study the limitations and obstacles to product development with local wisdom, and 5) study the direction of community enterprises’ potential development for local wisdom product development. Qualitative data gathering is interviewing the key informants of involved government offices, local administrative organizations, community enterprises’ presidents, and focus groups are conducted among communities’ leaders and community enterprises’ members. The community products in U-thong are classified as processed agricultural products, organic products, farm animals, souvenirs, clothes, and household items. The potential factors of community enterprises, covering 13 sub-districts, total 105 villages, 20 villages were selected with their products linking to local wisdom and their identity. The results of the study of potential variables of community enterprises from relevant research findings and theoretical concepts, two prototypes of potential community enterprises were found; one is local wisdom products linked to ethnic cultural identity and another is organic agricultural products that are selected with qualified potential factors. The limitations and obstacles to product development with local wisdom is the lack of participation since most members are farmers and elderly people which has time and health constraints. The direction of community enterprises’ potential development is to learn for planning, and actual implementation of the plan with an emphasis on the principles “community owned and operated” and uses raw materials, resources, capital, labor in the community.

Keywords: Potential, Community Enterprise, Product Development, Local Wisdom