Just recently the working team of the University to Sub-district Project or U2T of Khon Kaen University including Faculty of Associated Medical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Economics, International College joined Permanent Secretary of Ban Ton Sub-district Municipality, representatives of the Bantonsripimonwittaya Community School, Kamnan Sman Phetseekhiaw, Professional Agricultural Academic Officer of Phra Yuen District, VHV officers, Sub-district Health Promotion Hospital, graduates working for U2T Project in Ban Ton Sub-district, totaling 47 people, in the learning and sharing activity to develop the working approaches at Ban Ton Sub-district. The activity also aimed at reflecting perspectives and application of the integrated development approaches for the community. The emphasis is on economic and efficiency development related to the people’s main occupation, which is rice paddy, and supplementary occupations. The goal is to build a cluster of production groups at the sub-district level.
The University to Sub-district Project or U2T of Khon Kaen University at Ban Ton Sub-district, Phra Yuen District, Khon Kaen Province is divided into 3 phases. The first is the proposal of the developmental concept for the work by representatives of the Academic Service Bureau of Khon Kaen University, Ban Ton Sub-district Municipality, and Betagro Group’s Office of Social Activities.
The activity featured learning and sharing of working experiences, setting visions and goals that lead to impacts and sustainability. The study cases of the following people were used: Mr. Sutthipong Khamnythai, who has built the upgrading development at the household level, which has been extended to the community level; Mrs. Somparn Phapao, who has improved the production of major crops, developed supplementary occupations, and developed household health and environment until the outcomes can be extended to the public areas; and the study case of a model household for management of supplementary occupation and building stability of daily and weekly incomes based on the concept of selling what remained from household consumption.
In order to develop occupation and the living of the farmers, groups are built under the concept of the use of products, social and resource capitals of Khok Noi integrated farming plantations, which are the public areas that are open for farmers and those having no subsistent land to produce their crops and earn incomes for the family. These areas are supported by the Municipalities and governmental organizations and are coordinated by Phra Yuen District Agricultural Officer. Khon Kaen University has collaborated under the lead of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kriengkrai Kitcharoen, Vice President for Human Resources; Asst. Prof. Dr. Rakpong Phetkham, Director of the Academic Service Bureau of Khon Kaen University; and Asst. Prof. Dr. Satorn Porntrakoonpipat, Deputy Director of the Academic Service Bureau. At present, the work is under the phase of upgrading from the big plantation toward the establishment of a juristic entity for production as a social enterprise in the future.
The next step is the division of work at the area and the network levels. At the area level, the activity will involve building of faith and trust, such as solving the confronting problem of primary education. The in-depth information will be used to develop the curriculum, evaluation and analysis of information (HAB Tambon Profile + HAB Household Profile). This will lead to solution of problems – from needs rather than from wants – of the community members.
At the network level, the various aspects will be linked and the knowledge obtained integrated for solving the problems in the network area. This will be based on the management of limited social resources and budget. Then a forum will be scheduled at the end of March or the beginning of April to draw conclusion of the lessons learned from the developmental work of Phase 2 and Phase 3, including training of staff.
News information and photos: U2T staff at Ban Ton Sub-district
