Farmers’ Opinion towards Rice Production Technology in Community Rice Centers, Mueang District, Suphanburi Province

Abstract

This research was conducted to study 1) basic personal and economic factors of farmers, 2) farmers knowledge about rice production technology, 3) farmers opinion towards rice production technology, 4) problems and suggestions towards rice production technology of farmers. Data were collected from the population 130 farmers in community rice centers, Mueang District, Suphanburi Province by using interview schedule. The statistical analysis was carried out by descriptive statistics, frequency distribution, percentage, mean, standard deviation, maximum and minimum.The research finding revealed that most of the farmers were male (52.3%) with the average age 52.5 years, and the highest education level was elementary. They had average household 4−6 members, and average rice production area was 20.42 rai. The average household farm labors were 3 persons, and their average experience on rice production was 27.25 years. The average cost of rice production was 3,367.88 baht/year, and their average income was 192,420.38 baht/year, with the average rice yield 867.85 kg/rai. Farmers’ level of knowledge of rice production technology was at high level, and their level of opinion towards rice production technology in 8 aspects containing the rice seeds, preparing the lands, eliminating weed, use of fertilizers, protecting and eliminating enemies of rice, water management, harvesting and preparing of farm accounts on the average were at high level (μ = 4.00). In terms of practice, farmers were found encountering problems with the severity of drought, high cost of production factor and decadence of natural resources. It therefore, suggested that agricultural agents should have a measure to control the cost of production factor and providing the farmers with knowledge and encouraging them to seriously adopt rice production technology continuously.