Strengthening the Sufficiency Economy Society with the Learning and Operational Process for Organic farming Certification Through Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) in Chiang Rai Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research were 1) to study and take lessons learned on learning management process of an organic farmer group using Organic standard by Participatory Guarantee System to strengthen the society according to the sufficiency economy principle. 2) To study the contributing factors to strength the organic farming groups with Participatory Guanrantee Systems (PGS). Used Qualitative research by collected primary and secondary data, in-depth interviews with group member representatives and chairman of group were extracted lessons learned from the learning management process and content analysis. The finding indicated that lessons learned on learning management process and content analysis. The findings indicated that the strength of members based on three principles of sufficiency economy, moderation, reasonableness, depend on two conditions one that uses knowledge and go together with virtue of honesty. There were 6 factors contributing to the group's strength: 1) members who gave importance to organic farming, 2) there was a network of PGS groups that cooperated, 3) there was check plots according to organic farming standards mechanism 4) marketing mechanism based on 4 PS 5) participative management of PGS Chiang Rai group and 6) learning exchange activities among members.