FACTORS AFFECTING THE SUCCESS OF OPERATION OF BANKHAOLAK RAFTS COMMUNITY ENTERPRISE IN MUEANG TRANG DISTRICT, TRANG PROVINCE

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to study 1) general information of members and operational conditions of the community enterprise, 2) success factors of the community enterprise operation, 3) suggestions for the operation, 4) the receiving and needs for the extension of the community enterprise operation, and 5) to analyze the extension guidelines for the community enterprise operation. The population of this study was 147 members of the Bankhaolak Rafting Community Enterprise, who registered with the Department of Agricultural Extension in 2017. A sample size of 108 people was determined using the Taro Yamane formula with an error value of 0.05 through a simple random sampling method. Data were collected using an interview form and were analyzed by using frequency distribution, percentage, minimum value, maximum value, mean, standard deviation, T-test, correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis, and content analysis.

          The results find 1) Most members of the community enterprise were male, with an average age of 51.13 years and an education level up to high school. A significant majority (87.0%) were farmers as their main occupation, earning an average of 70,537.04 Baht/year from it, and 13,072.22 Baht/year from the community enterprise. Most members (63.0%) utilized raw materials and resources primarily from within the community, and all members sold their products entirely within the local community market, using personal funds as the main source of capital. 2) Members agreed with the success factors of the community enterprise operation overall at the highest level, with the factor of 'Participation' having the highest average score. 3) Members requested that government agencies, private sectors, and related organizations provide support in knowledge and skill development, relevant materials and equipment for activities, and capital and resource management. 4) Income from the main occupation was found to significantly affect the success of the community enterprise operation at the statistically significant level of 0.05. and 5) The recommendation is to implement knowledge transfer regarding various aspects of community enterprise management, relying on the cooperation of government agencies, private sectors, and external organizations.