Research Article THE MODEL OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT BASED ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF SUFFICIENCY ECONOMY AFFECTING PADDY FIELDS AND ROCK SALT FIELDS IN BAN DUNG DISTRICT, UDON THANI PROVINCE, THAILAND. Phusit Phukamchanoad Department of Social Development Management, Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Thailand [email protected] Received: 2019-12-23 Revised: 2019-12-21 Accepted: 2019-12-04 ABSTRACT This research aimed to study also analyzes public participation in resolving the problem of salt-water intrusion due to the rock salt field production and applies the sufficiency economy philosophy for everyday living. This research collected data by using questionnaires surveying 400 samples. According to the research results, Ban Dung District area has a long history going back 4,000 years the same as the Ban Chiang civilization. Formerly, it was an enormous forest with rubber trees, coconut trees, and many kinds of wild animals. Nowadays, there are salt fields in four districts consisting of Ban Dung District, Phon Sung District, Sri Sut Tho District, and Ban Chai District; the salt fields impacted Na Kham District, which is the “three waters” town. Most of the local people are farmers believing in Buddhism, living together for not less than 21 years. Therefore, when they needed to solve the problem of salt- water intrusion from rock salt field production, people actively participated and cooperated, especially in terms of acknowledgment, understanding, brainstorming, and sharing their opinions; however, they did not take any action. The operational participation is rated at the medium-to-low level. The personal and household operations in the activities based on the 294 วารสารวิจัยราชภัฏพระนคร สาขามนุษยศาสตรและสังคมศาสตร ปที่ 15 ฉบับที่ 1 (มกราคม - มิถุนายน 2563) theory of sufficiency economy are estimated at a high level. Furthermore, they should find a significant mechanism to mobilize “3 collaborations, four pillars, nine integrations, and one foundation” model, which is the condition under the theory of sufficiency economy for moving onto the sustainably happy civil state community in Scenario Building. The factors affecting the participation in solving the problems are people aged 51 years and more, agricultural and farmer, the period of living in the area is 30 years and more, social group, Landlords and landowners in the area. Keywords: public participation, social context, application of sufficiency economy philosophy, paddy fields and rock salt fields, Ban Dung District, Udon Thani Introduction The “Public participation” is an the social changes (Office of the National important instrument or approach for Economic and Social Development Board, Democratic world society’s sustainable 2011). This means, in the past decade, the development. Moreover, it is also one of the main goal of such plan still emphasizes processes targeting human development on “people” since the capable “local” as humans are the main mobilizer for global people can strengthen and sustain local development. Similarly, people should areas. Furthermore, Thailand highly gives have qualified instruments to support their importance to social capital; this can derive country’s developmental plan. The more of from social assembling, mutual thinking, participation of quality people, the higher and mutual cooperation, based on trust, quality achievement expectation. According relationships, and valuable culture in Thai to “human capital” development mentioned society which are accumulated through the in the Eleventh National Economic and relationship network consisting of citizens, Social Development Plan II, it is necessary institutions, culture, and knowledge; these to develop morality, lifelong learning, and are the sources of power in the community appropriate skills among Thai citizens and society (Khamman and colleagues, at different ages. It is also important to 2008: 5). The more social capital has, the strengthen social institutions and local more community and social power mobilize communities to recognize and adapt to the development. Phranakhon Rajabhat Research Journal (Humanities and Social Sciences) 295 Vol.15 No.1 (January - June 2020) In addition, we should pay attention hence, the public participation for arranging to “geosocial” because it effectively reinforces activities was usually successful due to the participation and empowerment of the local geosocial-based local development. local people in terms of development. This Development depended on the participation is one of the methods we have to consider of local people. This process gave the local for the local area’s development. We also people opportunities to show their opinions, have to consider the topography of the to consider, and to make decisions as well areas and sociology regarding people’s as to take responsibilities which affected personalities as well as the difference of themselves and the public. This will develop traditional culture in each local area; this and change the sustainable society in conforms to his majesty the king’s speech: the preferred direction through the public “...Development must take account of the participation. local environment, especially physical In the past decades, Ban Dung environment and sociological environment. District, Udon Thani had followed and For the local sociological environment, we resolved the environmental problems refer to certain characteristics and ways of in the rock salt fields. An environmental thinking which we cannot force people to scientist, Sompong Boonfruang, from the change. We can only suggest. We cannot Regional Environmental Office 9th had intervene to help people by trying to make concluded the problems as follows: most them the same as us. However, if we intervene of salt fields were close to the agricultural and find out what the people really want and areas. At first, these areas were paddy then fully explain how they can best achieve fields, so there were the complaints about their aims, the principles of development smuggling of wastewater discharge into can be fully applied” (Office of the National paddy fields. The dry-salt processing had Economic and Social Development Board). passed to nearby areas, brooks, and canals. Therefore, social capital is a part of way It affected the environment both in a short of life that related to sufficient lifestyle run and a long run. Moreover, the role of which is fundamental for Thai society. This the local administrative organizations in empowered people to develop the balance regard to salt field management was unclear of social, economic, and cultural aspects because the salt fields were under several with the current capital in local areas; administrative organizations’ responsibilities. 296 วารสารวิจัยราชภัฏพระนคร สาขามนุษยศาสตรและสังคมศาสตร ปที่ 15 ฉบับที่ 1 (มกราคม - มิถุนายน 2563) The staffs were not adequate due to their most people used this canal for agriculture large areas. The entrepreneurs also did not all year round. The governmental institutions cooperate in environmental conservation. with the participation of entrepreneurs and However, according to the viewpoints of local people had tried to solve the problems. the three hundred executives from the local However, the problems still keep growing administrative organizations, one of the because the canal is exceptionally long. environmental pollution problems in the upper Therefore, a lot of people were affected northeast region was the saltwater intrusion. by this problem. Moreover, there was land This problem arose when the saltwater flowed subsidence in many areas which were both into the paddy fields and destroyed them. near and far from the community, for example, Moreover, they also found that the public in Ban Dung Noi, Ban Na Hong, Ban Thung, participation problems consisted of the lack Ban Non Sabaeng, Ban Norg Wang, Ban of awareness and waste sorting and littering Champa Dong, and Ban Kut Ruea Kham. education, littering outside the responsible There were also deforestation and fish deaths areas, and roadside littering (Patumpong, (Kunurat & Yongvanit, 2002). Nevertheless, Editor, 2005: 1-7). Presently, the affected the total area of Ban Dung District is 923.768 areas in Ban Dung District are expanding to square kilometer. It consists of 13 sub- more than four sub-districts. This problem districts, 140 villages, and 34 communities. also affected the agricultural areas, plants, In December 2010, the total population and Taraw palms which are important trees was 123,227 people; there were 32,135 of Ban Dung District. According to the households and 180 rock salt entrepreneurs fieldwork conducted in Udon Thani education (The Bureau of Registration Administration, service center area, the urgent issue that Department of Provincial Administration, they concerned was to create the problem- 2015). In terms of topography, most of the solving guideline for pleasant coexistence areas were low plains, sandy soil, and sparse between local rock salt farmers and local forests. Most people were farmers who grew agriculturists. The origin of the conflict in this rice, sugar cane, rubber trees, and cassava. area was the saltwater intrusion into the canal; The following figure shows the area map. Phranakhon Rajabhat Research Journal (Humanities and Social Sciences) 297 Vol.15 No.1 (January - June 2020) Figure 1 The Map of Thirteen Sub-Districts, Ban Dung District, Udon Thani Source: Office of the Non-Formal and Informal Education, Na Kham Sub-District (NFE). (2015) Ban Dung