Knowledge and Practice Accordance with Good Agricultural Practices in the Raising of Asian Honey Bee (Apis cerana F.) of Farmers in Palian District Trang Province

Abstract

This research aimed to study 1) personal factors, economic factors, social factors, knowledge and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) of farmers in the raising of Asian honey bee (Apis cerana F.), 2) factors related to GAP of farmers, and 3) problems and needs of farmers for the raising of Asian honey bee. The sample was 161 of Asian Honey Bee famers in Palian District, Trang Province. The sample size be calculated by using the Taro Yamane. Mean, percentage, standard deviation and multiple regressions were used for data analysis.

 The results found that most of farmers have 4 years in average of experience in raising Asian honey bee and have gained 5,818.18 baht/year in average as an income from selling honey. Most farmers, 95.03%, received news and information from agricultural extensionist and their level of knowledge and practices are at a high level. The analysis of factors related to GAP in raising Asian honey bee found that there are 6 independent variables affecting the  GAP significantly at the 0.01 level and can be predicted at 37.20% (R² Adjusted=37.20). The variables with positive correlation were experiences of farmers in raising Asian honey bee, group attending, number of knowledge sources and number of training they have attended. While the variables with negative correlation were level of education attained and knowledge on GAP. The most important problems found in their production are the not entering the hive of bees and marketing channels. Need of farmers for self development are the techniques for separation of beehives and the transfer of bees into the perches.