Training Course on the Business Path of Producing Wolffia for Health Food

Abstract

This research aims to develop a training course for a business pathway centered on producing health food derived from Wolffia. The research was conducted in two steps: 1) the development of the training course, and 2) a critique of this course. Key informants included lecturers and staff from the Faculty of Education and Development Sciences, Kasetsart University; participants from Withi Phra Thaen Social Enterprise, Tha Maka District, Kanchanaburi Province; participants from the Office of Extension and Training Kamphaeng Saen; and Wolffia farmers. The research instruments comprised an interview form and an observational form. The methodologies employed included interviews, critique, reflection, and focus groups. The data were analyzed qualitatively through content analysis.
Based on the results, it was indicated that the training course included the following components: training title, training objectives, course content, training activities, training media, training evaluation, and the duration of the training period. The course content comprised four learning units:
1) Wolffia as a future food source, 2) Universality of Wolffia, 3) Wolffia as a superfood, and 4) Wolffia for start-up business. This course will offer a comprehensive introduction to Wolffia, its cultivation for household food, processing techniques, and an overview of the Wolffia market. In summary, based on the course evaluation, this research proposes a model for a short-term training program that can serve as a prototype for developing health foods from Wolffia at the community level.