Integrating Fingerroot Herb Cultivation in Sam KhwaiPhueak Town Municipality, Mueang District, Nakhon Pathom Province

Abstract

The three objectives of this study were (1) to analyze the context of fingerroot herb cultivationinTown Municipality, Mueang District, Nakhon Pathom Province; (2) to identify problems in cultivating the fingerroot herb; (3) to offer guidelines for integrating fingerroot herb cultivation. This study employed a qualitative design. Data were collected from non-participant observations, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions with 12 key informants, including public officers, private employees, and fingerroot farmers. The data were analyzed by content analysis. Major findings: (1) On the context of fingerroot herb cultivation, fingerroot is annually cultivated between March and May, while the processes of cultivation, care-taking, and selling were inherited from ancestors; (2) On the problems in cultivating the fingerroot herb, they included (a) the lack of government support, (b) the absence of farmer’s groups, (c) the lack of working capital, (d) the absence private organization purchasing produce, and (e) the inability to expand into new markets; and (3) On the guidelines for integrating fingerroot herb cultivation, they included (a) the government to support working capital and cultivation essentials, (b) the farmers to group up, (c) the cultivation to be developed, (d) the private sector to participate in cultivating, producing, and processing, and (e) the environment to be conserved.