DEVELOPMENT OF THE QUALITY OF RICE CRACKER PRODUCTS OF THE NONG TAO OCCUPATIONAL GROUP, KHAM KHUEN KAEO DISTRICT, YASOTHON PROVINCE, TOWARDS COMMERCIALIZATION

Abstract

The objectives of this research were 1) to study the problems and needs of consumers in developing the product and packaging of rice crackers, 2) to develop the process of making rice crackers clean and hygienic, 3) to develop the tools for producing rice crackers and packaging that are in accordance with hygienic principles, and 4) to evaluate the results of developing the quality of community products of the rice cracker production group. The group of informants consisted of 35 members of the rice cracker product group of the Ban Nong Tao occupation group, Na Kae Subdistrict, Kham Khuen Kaeo District, Yasothon Province, selected using a purposive sampling method. The data collection tools used were interview guidelines and focus group discussion guidelines, using content analysis and descriptive analysis, and using essay descriptions.

          The study results found that : 1) the study results of the production of community products in the Nong Tao rice cracker production occupation group found that the production of large raw rice cracker sheets had a lot of orders. There was the production of rice crackers with naturally appetizing colors because the colors came from nature, namely sticky rice, pumpkin, pandan leaves, granulated sugar, along with the added fragrance of white grated coconut meat, 2) Design and develop a hygienic packaging tool. The Nong Tao Rice Cracker Production Career Group and the research team organized a focus group meeting to jointly determine the guidelines for improving the rice cracker production building, the rice cracker production process, and the packaging design. They also learned how to use the rice cracker sheet production machine, which was supported by students and teachers of the mechanical engineering department of Loei Technical College, to produce a prototype rice cracker sheet machine for the group to help increase production and reduce the labor of members in making rice cracker sheets. For the development of tools and the design of hygienic packaging, 3) developing the design of packaging tools to be in accordance with consumer hygiene principles, building a factory for the production of rice crackers. Before building the rice cracker production laboratory, it was found that the rice cracker production occupation group used the area around the Nong Tao village community hall, which had an open space to be used as a gathering place and for organizing various community activities.