The objective of this study were to : 1) explore context and attitude of hill ethnic farmers having an affection innovation transfer from local wisdoms ; 2) explore the innovation transfer from local wisdom of the hill ethnic farmers ; 3) investigate factors effecting the innovation transfer from local wisdoms of the hill ethnic farmers ; 4) develop the process of the innovation transfer from local wisdoms of the hill ethnic farmers ; and 5) construct an appropriate model for the innovation transfer from the hill ethnic farmers for agricultural development and self-reliance. Data were collected from a sample group of 231 hill ethnic famers in a high land royal project. Obtained data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis.
Results of the study revealed that most of the respondents Karen, mole, 42.95 years old, single, lower elementary school graduates and they had 5.5 family members on overage. They had 7.83 rai of land holding, 127,113 bath of an annual income, 48,123 bath of household debts and 13.14 years of experience informing. Most of therespondents had no social position. They participated in their village traditions 2.38 times a year and training/educational trip about local wisdoms twice a year on average. The respondents received news/information about local wisdoms 7.36 times per month on average (group 2.06 times and mass communication 10.66 times per month on average). As a whole, they had a high level of attitude towards local wisdoms/innovation transfer.
Findings showed that factors effecting local wisdoms transfer of the respondents with a statistical significance level were age and participation in village traditions. The following were guidelines for developing the process innovation transfer from local wisdom of the respondents included: 1) promotion and support on innovation transfer from local wisdoms focusing on actual practice; 2) exhibition holding and demonstration; 3) establishment of a community learning center; 4) preparing media and leaflet (dialect); 5) training about local wisdoms; and 6) encouraging highland people to be aware of the importance of their local wisdoms. In addition an appropriate model for promoting innovation transfer from local wisdoms of the ethnic farmers were; 1) promotion of the body of knowledge about innovation and methods of knowledge transfer; 2) creating good attitude of the ethnic farmers; 3) promotion and development of innovation transfer methods; 4) creating readiness to the ethnic farmers based on the acceptance of innovation transfer from local wisdoms; and 5) holding a meeting seminar and educational trip as well as agricultural extension worker contact.