Developing Community Potential in Managing Food Safety and a Herbal City for the Wellbeing of an Urban Community in Mahasarakham Province, Thailand
Keywords:
Food safety, herbal city, wellbeing, Mahasarakham urban community, Food safety and herbal knowledge, Action research, Urban communityAbstract
Food safety and herbal cities are public health ministry projects and correspond to a 20-year national strategic plan (2017-2036). Therefore, there is an idea to operate food safety in the public sector, integrating the herbal city project. This study aimed to expand community capacity in managing food safety and a herbal city for well-being in Mahasarakham urban community, Mahasarakham Province, Thailand.
This study used an action research approach, and was conducted from January 2018 to September 2020. The sample group for the food and herbal safety production base was 173 farmers. The target group for enhancing food safety and herbal knowledge was 280 stakeholders.
Results revealed that the 173 farmers modified their behavior and moved towards safe agricultural practices. From 200 Rais (320,000 m2) of participating agricultural land, 20.0% of the area was transformed and certified by Good Agriculture Practices (GAP), while 33.5% of the area was converted to organic farming. The average income from selling herbs was 1,252,150 Baht per year. Most of the target sample who were screened for choline esterase were classified within the safe level. Comparison between before and after the sample groups showed a significant increase in safety level from 39.9% to 52.0% (p=0.0001). The average knowledge score regarding food safety and herbal knowledge among the target sample increased significantly (p<0.001) after system development. After system development, the food safety and herbal knowledge of the sample group was classified as excellent. Quality monitoring which involved the surveillance of food contaminants around urban Mahasarakham community areas found all food contaminants decreased after expanding capacity of the community. In addition, this study promoted three smart schools (21.4%), three smart villages (21.4%), and a smart sub-district health-promoting hospital, and a primary care unit promoting health knowledge (100.0%).
Our findings suggest that promoting food safety and herbal knowledge programs or short educational courses could continuously improve networks in the community’s knowledge. The success factor in expanding community capacity in managing food safety and herbal city for wellbeing was named the PMH Model (P: Safe Production base; M: Money; H: Health knowledge regarding food safety and herbal production). This study showed successful results and reflected earnestness from all stakeholders who participated in the development of processes of food safety and herbal city in Mahasarakham urban community, Mahasarakham Province, Thailand.
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