Possibility of Turmeric Production with Good Agricultural Practice of Farmers in Paphayom District, Phatthalung Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to study 1) turmeric production 2) knowledge and opinion on turmeric production with Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) 3) possibility of turmeric production with GAP, and 4) factors related to the possibility of turmeric production with GAP of 104 farmers who produced turmeric in Paphayom district, Phatthalung province. The interview schedule was used to collect the data. The statistical analysis was carried out by descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and correlation coefficient. The result revealed that the farmers graduated in elementary school at 68.3% with 12.45 years of experience in turmeric production. They had an average area of 1.87 rai (2,992 m²) for turmeric cultivation with 2 household labors. Most of them used their own funds to produce turmeric at 97.1%. They had an average yield of turmeric at 1,239.62 kg/rai, with an average cost of turmeric production at 5,107.69 THB/rai and average income from turmeric production at 22,581.70 THB/rai. In terms of turmeric production, 55.8% of farmers produced turmeric in sandy loam, 68.3% did not improve the soil, 85.6% used rainwater, 57.7% used chemical fertilizers, 89.4% controlled the weed, and 44.2% controlled the pest. They had a high level of knowledge on turmeric production with GAP standards with an average score of 11.01 scores. Also, they agreed strongly about turmeric production with GAP standards with an average of 2.72 scores. The majority of farmers, 85.6% produced turmeric according to the GAP standard by practicing 8–15 out of 23 items that was moderately possible to do GAP standard for turmeric production. The hypothesis testing was found that opinion on turmeric production with GAP (P < 0.01), fertilizer use (P < 0.01), and pest control (P < 0.05) statistically significantly related to the possibility of turmeric production with GAP. Therefore, agricultural extension officials should encourage farmers to practice all requirements of the GAP standard for turmeric production to apply for GAP certification.