Page 5 - kpi19164

Abstract

The Study on the Role of Cooperatives in Community’s Economic Development,

the Case Study of the Cooperatives in the Northern Region of Thailand has 2 main
objectives. The first is to study the economic development of Thailand that has been

shifted from the subsistent system to the export-oriented one. This transformation was

a significant factor led to the trial of establishing a cooperative. Thailand have then
witnessed the development and the multiplication in number of cooperatives since the

reign of King Prajadhipok, who recognized their significance and greatly supported, up

until today. And the second is to analyze the role of the cooperatives in community’s
economic development – also a consequence of what have been initiated by King

Prajadhipok. The qualitative method was applied for the research by collecting data

and information from the historical documents, and interviewing 7 prototype
cooperatives in the Northern Region. The result of the study revealed that the

cooperative concept has been adopted into Thailand since the reign of King Vajiravudh

(King Rama VI). However, the significant milestone of cooperative movement in Thailand
has actually started when the first Cooperatives Act B.E.2471 was announced on 20 May

1928. This law allowed the aggregation of the cooperatives to establish the cooperative

federation and cooperative league. Thus, during this period under the reign of King
Prajadhipok (King Rama VII) the country then observed the aggregation of cooperatives

to register as federation of cooperatives. This was deemed as the foundation for

cooperative development in Thailand. And the cooperatives were categorized according
to the objective of their cooperation. During B.E.2478 – 2494 the cooperative work had

expanded both quantity and quality. Besides their role in supporting the income

increment, the cooperatives also help empowering the people to have more bargaining
power in the capitalism system.

nd
According to the Cooperatives Act B.E.2542, amended B.E.2553 (2 edition),
there are 7 types of cooperative in Thailand: Agricultural Cooperatives, Land Settlement