กรณีศึกษาการบูรณาการด้านผลิตภัณฑ์และระบบนิเวศสวนเมี่ยง ต.ป่าแป๋ อ.แม่แตง จ.เชียงใหม่กับปรัชญาเศรษฐกิจพอเพียง

This case study is designed to (1) survey and collect data on the Pa Pae tea-growing community; (2) collect local wisdom on community development based on the Sufficiency Economy concept; (3) provide the community with technical knowledge on management, marketing
and community production development; (4) determine possible policy or strategy towards the progression of Pa Pae tea-growing community as an eco-tourism destination; and (5) provide the government with suggestions and determine guidelines to achieve the sustainable development phase for the community. Results from this study revealed the fact that tea is an original food of northern Thailand which contains beneficial nutrients. The byproducts of tea leaves are utilized as foods, energy drink and an item for guest greeting and ceremonies. Tea growing and producing are mentioned in the Sufficiency Economy concept as well as in the ninth and the tenth National Economic and Social Development Plans. Nonetheless, tea suppliers and entrepreneurs are facing marketing problems such as unpopularity of tea
products, unsteadiness of the price, distance between tea farms and production sites, marketing communications, lack of distributors and lack of knowledge on business management. These problems ranked in severe degrees (3.50, 3.94, 3.63, 3.55 and 3.59 respectively).
Suggestions from the study will lead to community sustainability which should result in their self-developing abilities to participate with
local government institutes and bring forward better knowledge assessment and provision of counsel and guidance regarding development, transformation, management, marketing, finance and basic infrastructure issues. All of these requirements have to be economical in order to allow the Pa Pae tea-growing community to be able to operate their business, based on the Sufficiency Economy concept.