Factors Effecting Needs for the Promotion of Non-toxin Vegetable Growing of Farmers in Muang Pan District, Lampang Province

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate: 1) a level of needs for the promotion of non-toxin vegetable growing of farmers; 2) factors effecting needs for the promotion of non-toxin vegetable growing of the farmers; and 3) problems encountered and suggestions about non-toxin vegetable growing of the farmers. The sample group consisted of 163 farmers growing non-toxin vegetable in Muang Pan district, Lampang province. A set of questionnaires was used for data collection and analyzed by using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. Results of the study revealed that most of the respondents had a high level of needs for the promotion of non-toxin vegetable growing ( =3.41). The following were factors having an effect on the promotion with a positively statistical significance level at 0.05: age, capital source, inspection of chemical contamination, and knowledge about non-toxin vegetable growing. However, one factor was found with a negatively statistical significance level at 0.05: experience in farming. The following were problems encountered: 1) a high amount of pesticide application; 2) decreased profitability of non-toxin vegetable selling; 3) lack of farmer group forming support; and 4) lack of water supply for cultivation. For suggestion, the following should be done: 1) allocation of water supply for cultivation; 2) extension of knowledge about chemicals for pest prevention and elimination; 3) market creation and expansion for sale agricultural yields; and 4) promotion of group farming among non-toxin vegetable growers as well as support on seed, chemical contamination inspection, budgeting and farm visit.