THE BELIEF OF LOCAL CULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY: A CASE STUDY OF THE BELIEF OF ANCESTOR SPIRITS AND COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY IN BONNATHONG, KUTPRATHAI, DETUDOM, UBONRATCHATHANI

Abstract

The study examined local cultural beliefs and food security through a case study of the Phi Pu Ta (Ancestral Spirit) belief and food security in Ban Na Thong Community, Kutprathai Subdistrict, Detudom District, Ubonratchathani Province. Guided by the research question, "How do the local cultural beliefs of Bannathong affect food security? this study aimed to analyze the Phi Pu Ta cultural belief system and its impacts on food security. Conducted from January 1, 2022, to February 28, 2024, this qualitative research utilized semi-structured interviews and field notes. Findings reveal that Ban Na Thong an agricultural community over 200 years old, originally named the Pod Paed community is rich in natural resources, including forests and public water sources. Established alongside the community in 1937, the Phi Pu Ta shrine plays a vital role in resource conservation, fostering a seasonal food culture that ensures the year-round availability of natural food. In later years, the community established a local temple, which became another central pillar of village life. Following the temple's construction, resource management evolved into a collaborative effort among the temple, the Phi Pu Ta spiritual leaders, and the village headman. Despite modernization, faith in Phi Pu Ta remains strong. However, commercial production has depleted natural forest resources, leading to a shift toward alternative crop cultivation and animal husbandry as a substitute. To enhance resource and food security, this research proposes strengthening community participation, leveraging kinship networks, promoting alternative agriculture, and reviving the tradition of ancestral spirit worship.

Keywords: Local Cultural Beliefs, Pu Ta Spirit, Food Security, Don Pu Ta Sacred Forest, Khalam (Traditional Spirit Medium/Custodian)