Factors Affecting Potato Growing Practice of Farmers in Sansai District, Chiang Mai

Abstract

The objectives of research were 1) to study the personal and socio-economic backgrounds of the potato growers in Sansai district, Chiang Mai;  2) to assess the degree to which such potato growers undertake the cultural practices as recommended by the agricultural extension workers; 3) to examine the factors affecting the potato growers’ implementation of the recommended cultural practices; and 4) to assess what the potato growers consider to be their problems, obstacles, and recommendation of potato grower. The needed information was collected using the questionnaire from 131 samples of potato growers in Sansai district, Chiang Mai. Data collection were using the questionnaire. Statistical techniques used were percentage, arithmetic mean, and standard deviation, the multiple regression analysis.

On personal and socio–economic backgrounds, the study found that the majority of the sampled potato growers were male, 56 years old on the average, married, with primary school education, having four members in the family, with two family members in labor force, shouldering averagely 134,500 Baht household debt, earning 5,938.93 Baht per household income per month on the average, and occupying averagely 10.76 rai. These potato growers had 9.53 rai of farmland per household on the average. Most of them participated in agricultural training session once a year as well as get in touch with agricultural extension workers, obtain agricultural–related news and information averagely three times per month, and have 12 years of experience on the average in growing potato. Generally, the potato growers under study undertake the potato cultural practice highly in line with the advice from the agricultural extension workers. Meanwhile, the factors contributing positively at the statistically significant level to the potato growers’ adoption of the recommended cultural practice were found to be age, the number of family labor, contact with agricultural extension workers, and years of experience growing potato.  The common problems encountered by the potato growers were reported to include plant disease spread, high cost of production, soil quality degradation, crop damage due to climate change, and low-quality output. The potato growers advised that the agricultural extension agencies organize training sessions on pest and disease control in potato production, find measures to elevate the buying price of potato, and help enlarge the market for potato output and products.