Rice culture: A product development model for community culture in the Isan region

Abstract

This investigation has three principal research aims: 1) to study the background and history of traditional rice culture in Northeastern Thailand;  2) to study the current state of traditional rice culture in Northeastern Thailand and associated problems; 3) to study the rice culture product development model for community culture in the Isan region. Data for this investigation was collected from document analysis and field research with 126 individuals in three provinces in Northeastern of Thailand. The results showed that there has been continuous development of rice culture in Thailand since pre-history. Rice is a staple food of Thai people. It was found that rice-based products in Thailand, including kanomjeen, krayasatorn, namkaoglong, lodchong and gung jom, are produced either by means of traditional methods or an adapted process. The majority of goods are packaged in plastic bags and not all products are standardized. In order to develop the transformed rice products and thus rice culture of Northeastern Thailand, producers should produce raw materials themselves, develop packaging and support local government institutions to create a set of standards for local products.