This dissertation aimed to: 1) study the problems of the unsustainability of
the longan economy in Chanthaburi Province, 2) study the factors affecting the unsustainability of the longan economy in new areas, and 3) propose a model for sustainable development of the longan economy in new areas among globalization in Chanthaburi Province. The research methodology was an interdisciplinary study that crossed fields and was based on holistic thinking. The research methodology used an area-based analysis by studying primary and secondary documents, including historical interviews from hearsay and in-depth interviews.
The findings were as follows: 1) the main problem of the unsustainability of
the longan economy in Chanthaburi Province was reflected in the problem of longan prices that tended to decrease. For example, in the case of longan size no. 1, the price dropped from around fifty baht down to ten baht per kilo. Meanwhile, the production costs tended to increase accordingly, including labor costs, chemical costs, or drought costs; 2) for the factors affecting the unsustainability of the logan economy, it was found that the problem came from many factors. However, the important factor which was a structural factor behind this was the factors related to the monopolies of intermediaries’ systems in the logan markets; and 3) regarding the model for sustainable development of the longan economy in new areas amid globalization, the researcher proposed a comprehensive model by the integration of the three driving mechanisms for sustainable development. The first one was the mechanisms of longan orchard owner communities which consisted of: (1) creating sustainability for independent longan farmers who do not participate in international exports, and (2) building networks based on the concept of farmer cooperatives. The second one was the mechanisms of government which consisted of: (1) amending the laws regarding longan trading contracts between longan orchard owners and
intermediaries to be fair, (2) promoting about longan products from Chanthaburi Province in China to be more comprehensive than now, and (3) manipulating longan market mechanisms to provide truly free competition. And the third one was the mechanisms of private-sector markets which consisted of: (1) expanding the internal markets to help stimulating more longan consumption within the country, (2) controlling longan production to be consistent with the needs of both domestic and international markets, and (3) creating fair competitive conditions.
