Confirmatory Composition Analysis of Factors Affecting the Cost of Rice Berry Cultivation of Farmers in the Northeastern Region

Abstract

The objectives of this research were; to survey and identify the factors affecting farmers' rice cultivated cost reduction in the northeast region. The sample was the farmers who grow riceberry in 2017/18, in-season rice which registered with the Provincial Agricultural Extension Office in the northeastern region. The Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were used in this research. The results of the research can be classified into 5 components including; 1) soil preparation 2) water management 3) the use of fertilizer 4) harvesting and 5) weeding. Then all factors were used to test the consistency of the model by using AMOS program to confirm the second element to confirm the consistency of theoretical survey results and empirical data. Then analyzed the important weight factors which affecting the farmers' rice berry cultivated cost reduction. The findings indicated that the model was consistent with the empirical data. Chi–Square=62.247,  P-value=0.081, RMSEA=0.029, GFI=0.981, AGFI=0.939 with statistical significance at a confidence level of 0.001. Therefore all 5 aspects effected to farmers' rice cultivated cost reduction in the northeast region. The factors weighting in descending order as follows; weeding (0.97), water management (0.89), fertilizer application (0.88), harvesting (0.72) and rice seeding (0.64).