SUCCESS OF THE MOTHER OF THE LAND FUND IN COMBATING DRUG PROBLEMS : A CASE STUDY OF BAN YOD, NAN PROVINCE

Abstract

          This research aimed to 1) examine the implementation process of the Mother of the Land Fund in Ban Yot, Village No. 2, Yot Subdistrict, Song Khwae District, Nan Province,                in addressing drug-related problems; 2) identify the factors influencing the Fund’s operations in preventing and solving drug issues; and  3) develop a model for enhancing the effectiveness of the Fund’s implementation that could serve as a prototype for other communities. A mixed-methods approach was employed. The study population was divided into two groups. The first group comprised 112 households that are members of the Mother of the Land Fund in Ban Yot. Data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed through descriptive statistics, including percentages, means (µ), and standard deviations (σ). The second group consisted of 32 key stakeholders, with 12 individuals selected as key informants. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews and analyzed using content analysis.  The findings indicated that 1) the implementation process of the Mother of the Land Fund in Ban Yot was rated at the highest level (µ = 4.64, σ = 0.30), characterized by systematic operations encompassing all ten stages of the Fund’s framework;   2) the Fund’s operational components were also rated at the highest level (µ = 4.71, σ = 0.36), with success attributed to the integration of three forms of community capital—human, social, and economic; and  3) the proposed expansion model emphasizes the development of a Mother of the Land Fund Learning Center as a model and networking hub, fostering linkages among Fund villages across districts and provinces. The model promotes sustainability under the “5 K conditions,” focusing on network development, youth and family engagement, and inter-sectoral collaboration.

Knowledge derived from this study can serve as a guideline for strengthening the operations of Mother of the Land Funds in other areas, enabling effective, sustainable, and community-based drug prevention and control.