Knowledge and Practice on Home Economics of Farm Women in Thalang District, Phuket Province

Abstract

This research was conducted 1) to study basic demographic characteristics and socio-economic data 2) to study the receive home economics support 3) to determine the knowledge in home economics and 4) to determine the practices on home economics of 112 farm women who were member of farm women group in Thalang District, Phuket Province by using interview schedule. Data were analyzed and presented through descriptive statistics consist of frequency, percentage, minimum score, maximum score and arithmetic mean. The results revealed that 1) Farm women had average age 56.83 years, received the highest primary school education 75.0 percent, the average household members was 3 persons, major occupation was farmers at 70.5 percent and minor occupation was on non–agriculture at 66.1 percent, the average household income was 209,020 Baht/year, average household expenditure was 116,578 Baht/year, average farm area was 8.75 rai, average farm labor was 3 persons who were family labor at 88.4 percent, They were membership of farm woman group in average 12 years with 65.2 percent as member status and also 98.2 percent as member of the other group. 2) They contacted with agricultural extension staff 7 times/year, most of them had never been trained home economics in the years AD 2015–2017 at 71.4 percent, all of them perceived the home economics information more than 1 channel such as from electronic media was thru television, from activity media via focus group. In addition, they also needed receiving extension service on home economics aspect from activity media. 3) They had knowledge of home economics which was divided into 4 issues as follow; (1) home economics for food security in households and communities was at low level with average point as 10.10 from 15 points, (2) home and environment management was at high level with average point as 4.32 from 5 points, (3) improving the working environment was at low level with average point as 2.88 from 4 points, (4) revenue increasing was at moderate level with average point as 2.91 from 5 points. Moreover, in all aspects, their knowledge on home economics was at low level with average point as 20.21 from 29 points. 4) They had practiced home economics more than 50.0 percent in all aspects.