ISSN : 2663-2187

Implementing the digital transformation to increase awareness of rice varieties in Pathum Thani, Thailand.

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Chayapa Laksopa
» doi: 10.48047/AFJBS.6.12.2024.783-798

Abstract

Thailand is an agricultural country that produces an extensive variety of crops such as white rice, jasmine rice, broken rice, glutinous rice, parboiled rice, and husked rice (cargo rice). Thailand's rice economy is currently in a state of disarray since Thailand has an important competition with Vietnam and India. Consequently, rice breeding has emerged as a critical alternative for the country's economic recovery. As a result, Thailand has to export innovative rice varieties and conduct research in order to assist the rice industry. PPT rice, RD31 (Pathum Thani 80) rice, and PathumThani 1 rice have been the rice project at research centers in Pathum Thani province. The rice varieties are directly associated with Pathum Thani province, and these rice have some relationships in terms of collaboration with several research centers in other provinces. However, Thai consumers are still unable to approach the three varieties of rice. The problem statement in the research is that Thailand has a challenge in the rice industry with major competitors such as Vietnam and India. Pathum Thani, as one of the agricultural areas, updates rice varieties for solving problems, including PPT rice, RD31 (Pathum Thani 80) rice, and PathumThani 1. However, Thai people are unaware of the three rice varieties until related organizations promote them in convenient locations such as malls, mini-marts, and markets. Digital transformations will be essential strategies to facilitate the rice varieties from the first step on the online platforms until the last step, which has a wider market in 4-5-star hotels and restaurants. The objectives of the research article are: 1. Examining the extent to which people perceive and comprehend three rice varieties in the Pathum Thani Province including PPT rice, RD31 (Pathum Thani 80) rice, and PathumThani 1 rice. 2. Examine possible approaches for enhancing the promotion of the three rice varieties in the Pathum thani province by applying digital transformations to enhance the awareness and accessibility of rice varieties. 3. Explore the opportunities to exhibit three rice varieties in the 4-5-star hotels and famous restaurants in Thailand. The research project interviews a sampling of 75 participants who have a hometown, workplace, or residence in Thanyaburi District, Pathum Thani Province area 4. The survey collected data from the sample group with rating scale questionnaires from May 22, 2024 to May 27, 2024. The survey was generated by the Google Form programme to collect data from people in Pathum Thani province who prefer shopping or traveling in Thailand. The related locations in Thanyaburi district, Pathum Thani province, include BTS stations, markets, malls, and mini-marts. The hypotheses in the questionnaires are as follows: 1. The majority of the sample group has seen white rice and jasmine rice more often than the other three rice varieties. 2. More than 50% of the sample group satisfies more than level 4 on the rating scales, with the objective of raising awareness of three rice varieties in Pathum Thani province through applying digital transformations to the solutions. 3. More than 50% of the sample group is satisfied to purchase rice for less than 30 baht. The results demonstrate that the majority of the sample was female and held a bachelor's degree, and sample group ages ranged from 42 to 57. Both white rice and jasmine rice are well-known in malls, mini-markets, markets, hotels, and restaurants. Therefore, white rice and jasmine rice are more visible than PPT rice, RD31 (Pathum Thani 80) rice, and PathumThani 1 rice. The sample group has agreed to the solutions in the research project to support the rice varieties from Pathum Thani Province at the highest level, including distribution in online applications such as Facebook, Line, TikTok, Instagram, etc., pushing rice varieties to more convenient locations, including markets, malls, mini-markets, etc., an agricultural exhibition dedicated to host the three rice varieties that are cultivated in Pathum Thani Province., and elevating the quality of rice varieties to international standards in establishments including 4-5-star hotels and restaurants. The last part of the questionnaires demonstrates that the sample group considered rice price factors when purchasing rice, and they satisfied rice prices lower than 30 baht per kilogramme. Thailand has been impacted by a lack of economic incentives, and Thai consumers or Thai farmers are looking for quality of life. Pathum Thani Province should support Thai farmers in the agricultural sector by creating an online platform with the objective of improving Thai consumers' awareness in Thanyaburi district, Pathum Thani province. As a result, the private sector and the Thai government have to collaborate to increase the value of rice by making policies to support three rice varieties as the main export products.

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