Model Development for Food Product Entrepreneurs at the Microeconomic Level in Surat Thani Province

Abstract

Background: Business networking is a technical adjustment for the survival of small organizations. by combining many small organizations to gain benefits comparable to large businesses. Surat Thani Province is one province that recognises the importance of producing and developing the quality of health products to promote establishments that meet quality standards.

Objectives: To analyse the situation towards the business operations of health product entrepreneurs at the grassroots economy level, create an integrated network development model for the development of health product entrepreneurs at the grassroots economy level, and assess satisfaction and evaluate the integrated network development model for developing health product entrepreneurs at the grassroots economy level in Surat Thani Province.

Methods: The methodology was a research and development (R&D). It was an experimental model developed to be tested in Surat Thani Province between 2019 and 2023, with continuous periodic improvements. The sample group was food product entrepreneurs at the grassroots economy level in Surat Province at six people that won the FDA Quality Award at the national level in 2019-2023. The research selected a purposive sample of six food product entrepreneurs at the grassroots economic level in Surat Thani province who won the national FDA Quality Award in 2019–2023. There were three steps involved: (1) surveying the basic problems of health product entrepreneurs at the grassroots economy level; (2) developing a prototype and testing it in a sample group with support from the Surat Thani Province network, which continues to improve the prototype; and (3) evaluating the effectiveness of the prototype and satisfaction assessment results of the sample group.

Results: Results of the study of problems in business operations among a sample group of entrepreneurs. It was found that the main problems included: (1) high labour costs, whether compared to foreign countries; (2) insufficient raw materials for processing due to impacts from natural disasters; (3) sources of capital; (4) trade competitors; (5) maintaining quality and extending product life; and (6) the network was still in a narrow circle. The sample group needed support from the government and private sectors, such as knowledge and skill development, technology that comes in to help support Including various funds and the FDA Quality Award, which is able to help raise the status of the product and increase its potential because the award is a guarantee of quality and builds reputation and profits. When using the integrated network development model for developing food product entrepreneurs at the grassroots economy level in Surat Thani Province, it was used to promote from upstream, midstream, and downstream, with networks of government, private sector, universities, and community enterprises collaborating. When using the integrated network development model for developing food product entrepreneurs at the grassroots economy level in Surat Thani Province, it was used to promote from upstream, midstream, and downstream, with networks of government, private sector, universities, and community enterprises collaborating. It was found that the results can drive factors in the external and internal environment and operational processes, such as access to capital, product standards development, community identity development organising, and activities to stimulate the economy, as well as promotion of cultural capital and using community knowledge and wisdom, etc. When evaluating the results of satisfaction, it was found that entrepreneurs were satisfied at the highest level, averaging between 4.50 and 5.00 from a full score of 5.

Conclusion: Adopting an integrated network development model to develop food product entrepreneurs at the grassroots economy level in Surat Thani Province by integrating four sectors: government, private, universities, and community enterprises helped promote external environmental factors, internal factors, and integrated operating processes. It was able to satisfy the entrepreneurs at the highest level. This should be applied to promote it in other areas.