Monitoring and Evaluating the Success of a Network-Building Model for Grassroots Food Product Entrepreneurs in Surat Thani Province

Abstract

Background: Empowering grassroots food product entrepreneurs through a structured network-building process plays a pivotal role in community economic development and upgrading product standards to comply with legal mandates, such as the Food Act B.E. 2522. Although the operational model implemented by the Surat Thani Provincial Health Office has achieved recognized success, including helping entrepreneurs secure the FDA Quality Award, comprehensive systemic evaluations regarding the limitations and operational impacts of replicating this model in extended external areas remain significantly scarce.

Objective: To study the problems, limitations, and network development models, as well as to monitor, evaluate the success, and compare the effectiveness of the model for promoting network creation among grassroots food product entrepreneurs between groups within and outside Surat Thani Province.

Research Methodology: This study was a research and development (R&D) project that applied Stufflebeam’s CIPP model evaluation model across four core dimensions: context, input, process, and product A mixed-methods approach was executed between January and March 2026. Qualitative data were elicited via semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 27 government executives and officers. Quantitative data were compiled using a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire consisting of 73 items (Content Validity Index, IOC = 0.98; Cronbach’s alpha reliability = 0.92) administered to 185 grassroots food entrepreneurs. The quantitative sample was divided into 113 intra-area participants from Surat Thani Province and 72 extra-area participants from Bangkok, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ranong, and Pathum Thani provinces. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, content analysis, and the Independent Samples t-test with the statistical significance threshold established at 0.05.

Results: Qualitative findings revealed that major operational constraints were heavily synchronized between both groups across four primary issues: (1) financial liquidity shortages and revolving fund constraints, (2) poorly defined organizational structures stemming from an over-reliance on kinship systems, (3) digital marketing limitations with distribution mostly restricted to traditional markets, and (4) technological literacy gaps. To achieve sustainable self-reliance, capacity building must encompass five key pillars: production technology/innovation, economics, natural resources, psychology, and transparent social participation. The overall evaluation based on the CIPP model demonstrated high-level performance across all dimensions. However, comparative analysis indicated that the intra-area group in Surat Thani Province achieved significantly higher mean implementation scores than the extra-area group (p < 0.05) across all evaluated fields: Context (mean = 3.88 vs. 3.53, p = 0.00), Input (mean = 3.88 vs. 3.43, p = 0.00), Process (mean = 3.85 vs. 3.54, p = 0.00), and Product (mean = 3.86 vs. 3.62, p = 0.00). Notably, the competence and quantity of personnel in the intra-area group were rated at a high level (mean = 4.14), whereas the extra-area group was rated at a moderate level (mean = 3.36).

Conclusions: The network-building model yielded a high level of success, with the intra-area group displaying superior outcomes due to geographical advantages and close interaction with a localized mentorship system. The principal driving success factor was the delivery of institutional knowledge regarding food regulations, manufacturing hygiene standards, and accurate food and nutrition labeling, which directly fostered regulatory compliance and consumer safety. Policy recommendations advocate for the institutionalization of localized, specialized advisory centers and area-based mentorship mechanisms to eliminate model dilution during scaling-up processes.