Factors Affecting Opinions and Practice with the Privileges under the Rubber Authority of Thailand Act of Rubber Farmer, Phrae Province

Abstract

The objective of the study were; 1) individual basic factors, economic conditions, social, economy, receiving information; 2) level of knowledge, opinion and practice; 3) finding the relationship between individual basic factors, economy, social, receiving information, and level of knowledge, opinion and practice. and; 4) the problems, obstacles, and recommendations regarding rubber development guidelines. The study employed 310 samples and the questionnaire as the tool for data collection. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistic and multiple regression.

The results indicated that the majority of Phrae rubber farmer were male, average age of 51.75 years, married, elementary education level, the average income was 105,214.19 Baht, the average income obtained from rubber cultivation was 64,667.10 Baht, the average area for rubber cultivation was 13.09 rai, the average number of worker was 2 persons with the average work experience of 11.9 years, the majority of such workers were the group member, the average number of the activity and training participation was 3 activities and 1.98 courses, they mostly contacted with the Rubber Authority of Thailand. And the average channel of receiving information was 2.50 channels. It was found that the agriculturists’ knowledge level was at a moderate level and their opinions and operations were at a high level. The factors associating with the opinion were rubber farming experience, group membership, contacting with the agencies, receiving information, and the knowledge level, which yielded the statistical significance (Sig.<0.05). The factors associating with the compliance were ender, status, rubber farming work experience, membership, community activity participation, training, contact with the agencies, and knowledge level, which also yielded the statistical significance (Sig.<0.05).

The problems, obstacles and recommendations of rubber farmer were farmers do not have documents on land rights, rubber prices down and knowledge in producing quality rubber. Therefore, farmer would like to have an amendment to the regulations to allow people without privileges. Creating a local rubber market system and organizing training courses for the development of farmers in the production of rubber to increase product value and distribution channels to have more choices.

It was found that the agriculturists’ knowledge level was at a moderate level and their opinions and operations were at a high level. The factors associating with the opinion were rubber farming experience, group membership, contacting with the agencies, receiving information, and the knowledge level, which yielded the statistical significance (Sig. < 0.05). The factors associating with the compliance were ender, status, rubber farming work experience, membership, community activity participation, training, contact with the agencies, and knowledge level, which also yielded the statistical significance (Sig. < 0.05).

The problems, obstacles and recommendations of rubber agriculturist were farmers do not have documents on land rights. Rubber prices and down. And knowledge in producing quality rubber. Therefore would like to have an amendment to the regulations to allow people without privileges. Creating a local rubber market system and organizing training courses for the development of farmers in the production of rubber to increase product value and distribution channels to have more choices.