DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD MODEL FOR LOW-INCOME AGRICULTURAL HOUSEHOLDS: A CASE STUDY OF LOCAL FERMENTED FISH PROCESSING IN UDON THANI, THAILAND

Abstract

This study aimed to develop a sustainable livelihood promotion model for low-income farming households through a case study of fermented fish (Pla Som) processing in Udon Thani Province. This traditional practice, a form of local wisdom with considerable economic potential, lacks systematic knowledge management mechanisms. The research utilized a Participatory Action Research (PAR) methodology, complemented by both qualitative and quantitative analyses—including Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA)—to identify the principal components contributing to successful livelihood promotion. The results indicated that the proposed model consists of five primary components: (1) adherence to the principles of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, and (2) the availability of comprehensive manuals and knowledge resources. (3) the presence of community-based mentoring systems, (4) knowledge transfer and capacity-building through training, and (5) income enhancement and access to modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital marketing.

The study further highlights the structural limitations faced by grassroots entrepreneurs, who continue to lack standardized mechanisms for knowledge transfer, systematic knowledge management, and business models that respond to modern competitive markets—despite progress made in certain areas. Nevertheless, these gaps present opportunities for future research, with four key recommendations proposed: (1) the development of a standardized Local Mentoring System as a central mechanism for knowledge transfer, reducing inequality of opportunity and enhancing the credibility of community-based learning processes; (2) the extraction and management of knowledge using digital tools such as AI Natural Language Processing (AI NLP) and CommonKADS, to capture and transform tacit knowledge from experts and communities into practical and scalable knowledge bases; (3) the design of practice-oriented knowledge transfer activities covering production, Pla Som processing, packaging development, branding, and digital marketing, in order to strengthen competitiveness and meet the demands of modern markets; and (4) the piloting of Business Model Innovation (BMI) prototypes co-created with communities, incorporating reflective learning processes to generate scalable models that can be expanded to the provincial level and provide a foundation for sustainable grassroots economic development.