The Promotion of Palian Pepper Cultivation to Increase Economic Value for Farmers in Palian District, Trang Province

Abstract

This research aimed to study 1) some basic economic and social information of farmers, 2) planting system, 3) marketing system and 4) factors affecting the cultivation of Palian pepper to increase economic value, as well as to study the problems and obstacles in promoting the cultivation of Palian pepper and guidelines for promoting the cultivation of Palian pepper in Palian district, Trang province. Data were collected from 21 pepper farmers in Palian district through questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed with descriptive statistics including percentage, mean, standard deviation and inferential statistics that included T-test and F-test. The research findings revealed that the majority of farmers were female (57.10%), with an average age of 55.33 years and hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Their average household size was 3.61 people, with 1.95 persons farming. Their monthly income was 18,095.23 Baht and their debt was 374,117.64 Baht. The vast majority (81.00%) were BAAC members who watched and followed agricultural news on television on a daily basis. In terms of Palian pepper planting system, the farmers had an average of 2.57 years of experience in pepper cultivation, with a total holding area of 10.52 rai and an average of 1.71 rai of pepper planting. Their cultivation was primarily for sale without prior training in pepper farming. The cultivation was monoculture and propagated through cuttings. The cement column was at a distance of 2x2 meters, with an average of 1.85 plants per hold. They used groundwater sources. There was no soil nutrient analysis and the farmers mostly used organic fertilizers. The average period between harvests was 13.50 months after planting and next harvest time was average 3.50 months. Regarding Palian pepper market system, it was discovered that all farmers knew where to sell their products by selling to merchants in the village. They first got the pepper prices from their neighbors. Pepper sold as fresh pepper prices can be negotiated by farmers. There was a firm that sells pepper products. Farmers have never been taken advantage of when selling their production, and payment was made in cash.

Factors affecting Palian pepper cultivation found that farmers' opinions on the impact were the highest in two elements, which were investment and return (average 4.75), and promotion/support (mean 4.71). Marketing (mean 4.02) and technology received the most positive responses (mean 3.85). The analysis of opinion levels on factors affecting technology, cultivation of Palian pepper varieties, investment and return, marketing and promotion/support classified by gender, age, educational level, the number of agricultural household members, income, debt status, and group or institutional membership in agriculture were found to have statistically significant differences (p≤0.01). Furthermore, farmers still lack academic knowledge in production, leading to the promotion technique of promoting knowledge through production training based on academic principles and promoting the processing of pepper in dried chili form in order to increase economic value.