Research Administration Division University of Phayao undertook a biannual follow up of Project 1: Innovation Community of the School of Liberal Arts for the fiscal year 2023 on July 3, 2023. School Project 1 was initiated in Ban So community, Mae Na Ruea Subdistrict, Mueang District, Phayao Province.
School of Liberal Arts, University of Phayao implemented this project on sustainable development of “ginger” products with three objectives:
1. To promote the processing of ginger into marketable products, to help generate income, and to solve the problem of oversupply which results in loss of income for farmers. Ban So community main produce includes rice, pumpkin, shallots, garlics, onions, ginger, and corn. Often local farmers overlook the potential value of ginger as a cash generating crop because they don’t consider developing new ginger products for market. This objective helps to solve the problem of oversupply and losses.
2. To create product distribution channels for farmers to sell ginger products using sustainable production and marketing practices.
3. To integrate knowledge-based expertise for disseminating innovative ginger products through the marketing of stories associated with the lifestyle of ginger farmers and for creating a unique ginger
Product selling point.
This Participatory Action Research known as PAR encourages Ban So community stakeholders to participate in self-development by carrying out 3 sub-activities: product development and design, distribution channel development, and English language training for intercultural communication of products to others.
These three activities help community to benefit both in developing English intercultural communication skills and in developing good marketing practices which helps to create new community innovators that have the necessary knowledge and expertise for processing agricultural products in Ban So community. Furthermore, new jobs and careers are created in the community workforce.