Participatory value chain development. Insights from community-based enterprise in rural Thailand

ABSTRACT

Amidst the fast-changing consumer behavior and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, community-based enterprises (CBEs), particularly startups, face the challenge of identifying strategic business models. The situation necessitates a collaborative and tailored approach to address the impediments CBEs encounter. Focusing on rural CBEs in Thailand, our research employs a participatory approach to value chain development, offering insights on enhancing value addition through stakeholder collaboration. The study explores how a participatory approach applied in rural Thailand facilitates overcoming obstacles and capitalizing on opportunities for economic growth, sustainability, and community inclusivity. By examining the application of participatory value chain development, this research contributes to a better understanding of how participatory value chain development can be tailored to meet the unique needs of community-based enterprises, particularly in post-COVID-19 market adaptations.

KEYWORDS:

• Community-based enterprise
• participatory
• value chain
• rural

Acknowledgment

This study is an integral component of the research project titled ‘The potential development and value chain enhancement of high-value products from rice community enterprise in Chachoengsao Province, Thailand’. We sincerely thank the Program Management Unit for Area-Based Development (PMU-A) for their financial support under the Flagship Initiative Plan of the Year 2020, Local Developing Universities [grant no: A13F630015].

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).