Soil and Water Conservation in Farmer’s Cassava Growing Area in Nakhon Ratchasima Province

Abstract

This research was conducted 1) to study some socio–economic data of farmers 2) to determine their knowledge and opinion towards soil and water conservation 3) to study their practice on soil and water conservation 4) to seek their problems on soil and water conservation. Data were collected from 168 farmers who had grown cassava in Nakhon Ratchasima Province by using interview schedule. The statistical analysis was carried out by frequency, percentage, and arithmetic mean. The results revealed that most of farmers 1) were male (92.3%), had average age 39.9 years, received elementary level as the highest education (42.9%), had average experience in planting cassava 18.6 years, had average household labor 3 persons, had average planting area 47.9 rais with average yield 3,746 kilogram/rai, earned average income form cassava 8,432.95 Baht/rai with average cost 3,627.32 Baht/rai. 2) Their knowledge towards soil and water conservation was at the high level (82.7%) by average point was 16.02 from 20 points, and also opinion towards soil and water conservation was at the high level (mean 2.65). 3) Top three of their practice on soil and water conservation were organic matter adding (95.2%), harrowing in suitable humidity (93.5%), and crop rotation (86.6%). 4) Top three of the problem derived from farmers included government agencies lacked the continuity of operations (57.1%), no simple soil and water conservation measures for farmers (54.2%), and policy on soil and water conservation was unclear (53.6%).