DEVELOPMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE RUBBER AGRICULTURISTS AT BANG SAPHAN DISTRICT PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN PROVINCE

Abstract

The objectives were to analyze quality of life rubber agriculturists at Bang Saphan District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province; and to construct a guidelines for developing the quality of life rubber agriculturists. This study employed a qualitative research by studied the case study and analysis based on documents, in-depth interviews, and focus group interviews. Key informants consisted of 16 rubber agriculturists at Bang Saphan District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province and related government officials. Data were analyzed by an inductive analysis. The major findings revealed that the rubber agriculturists had problems in quality of life in many dimensions, including health, environment, and employment and income; a guideline for developing quality of life of rubber agriculturists consisted of the government should promote the consumption for eat healthfully and annual physical examination; the government should strictly control the discharge of wastewater and air pollution of industrial plants; the government should formulate the rubber guarantee policy suitable for the cost of living; and encourage rubber planters to register with the Rubber Authority of Thailand to be a way to receive welfares and assistances.