โครงการยกระดับอาชีพเกษตรกรเพื่อเพิ่มรายได้ด้วยเทคโนโลยีเกษตรกรรม การสกัดสาร และการแปรรูป จังหวัดหนองคาย

Title

Increasing Farmers’ Income through Enhancement of Agricultural Technology, Bio-Compounds Extraction, Processing

Keywords

Nongkhai model

Abstract

The project is aimed at enhancing people’s livelihood and quality of life as well as improving competitive advantages among new entrepreneurs and community enterprises at an area-based level. The research results in Sub-plan 1 and Sub-plan 2 of the project show the primary data of costs and returns analysis, efficiency of production, as well as analysis based on the technology acceptance model. Sub-plan 1 research results show that 44.67 percent of farmers has 11-30 years experience in argriculural sector and has relatively high technology acceptance rate at 61 percentage. While the cost of rice production, pineapple production, and marigold production are mainly in agriculral materials, workforces, and seeds which are variable costs. While most of the costs in vegetable production are contributed to the vegetable greenhouse and its depreciation which are fixed costs. The analysis of financial ratio in 4 economic crops in Nong Khai indicates suitability for investment. In addition, the comparison analysis shows slightly increased in production efficiency after technology transfer. Sub-plan 2 conducted research on making low-cost feeds for carp and tilapia using Napier grass and research on improving the aquaculture farms breeding and management. The results show that most farmers interested in field crabs farms at 33.85% followed by tilapia, field frogs, freshwater prawns, and carp respectively. The operation on making low-cost feeds helps farmer in reducing the relative costs of feedings while the building low-cost marine nurseries and other activities help in creating returns to farmers. The results showed that raising giant freshwater prawns yielded the highest returns, followed by carp, field crabs, and field frogs respectively, while tilapia gave the lowest ones. In addition, the majority of the farmers were highly satisfied with the reduction of the costs in rearing of aquatic animals. The framework for this project is also focuses on the production of plant extracts in local areas which are pineapple and marigolds. Sup-plan 3 and Sup-plan 4 found that the pineapple-based ethanol extracts were potent and safe to be developed into products which are harmless to human skin bibroblast cells. Thus, pineapple extracts were produced in the forms of crude enzymes used as an ingredient of tenderizer powder which show enzymes activities at 9,479 CDU/g. Their benefits are to prevent bacteria and brighten the skin because they inhibit tyrosinase enzymes. Regarding marigolds, marigold-based lutein extracts were commercially developed, it is found that when the extraction was performed with the clean technology which involved water extraction, 100 grams of marigolds can produce 56-57 milligrams of lutein. The extracts were encapsulated in order to prolong their shelf life. Assessment of extraction efficiency showed that production conditions did not affect the quality of the extracts, and they were able to capture free radicals and heavy metal content according to the law and were harmless to the cells. Sub-plan 4 entailed conducting research and developing products from agricultural produces, including local aquatic animals such as bighead carp, carp, field crabs, field frogs and giant freshwater prawns, as well as local crops such as pineapples, marigolds, tomatoes, chilies and herbs. In particular, four types of rice seasoning products as ready-to-eat food were developed from aquatic lifes, namely fish laab seasoning, field crab powder, prawn powder, and thick frog soup powder of which ingredients uses a small amont of pickled fish powder. The production procedures which were the identity of community entrepreneurs were also used and tasted by 50 consumer population samples, the results reveal that deep-fried carp products that were created with the reduction of salt content were accepted as non difference from the controlled samples. In the of rice seasoning products, the use of 3 percent pickled fish powder is being accepted in overall taste and color which lead to the highest score on willingness to buy (p ? 0.05). In the meantime, Tomyum menthol herbal inhalers, the research result found that the use of 10.3 percent volatile compounds, such as camphor, menthol and borneol, are being accepted in a higher rate than others samples. In addition, the made of candied tomatoes which were developed from a variety of sugar-based sweeteners is being accepted in overall taste, color, odors and texture (p ?0.05). Apart from that, marigold tea that was developed with a mixture of dark and light marigold tea in the ratio of 30:70 is being accepted in the highest rate (7.58; p < 0.05). Concerning crispy pineapple products, crispy squid products made from pineapples as plant-based food were accepted by the consumers and have a higher score in color, odor, taste and texture than the old receipt (p ?0.05). Thus, the production innovation are transferred to the community entrepreneurs in the area and using available processing technology in the locality. In addition, this project aimed at enhance stability, and increase income opportunities. The research on the markets through design and development of brands, packages, and distribution channels found that 80 percents of the farmers accepted that the development of video clips about marketing to enable farmers to understand the meaning of demand and supply and marketing strategies could help promote a better understanding of marketing. Additionally, after the interview with the target groups, the research found that there are needs in redesigned of packaging of the products. Then value added was increased by means of package development. In addition, it is found that the current marketing channels was still limited, thus, the project fulfilled the needs of consumer behavior which has shifted to purchasing goods online through Line shopping and Metaverse. The majority of the farmers were highly satisfied with the maketing channels as it attracted considerable attention from consumers, so the farmers can be self-reliant as a result of earning more incomes through distribution of products.