Evaluation of the knowledge of coffee grower, Manee Phruek Village, Ngob Sub-district, Thung Chang District, Nan Province to develop towards the registration of Thai Geographical Indications

Abstract

The research objectives are as follows: (1) to assess knowledge about Thai geographical indicators and the knowledge about the cultivation of Arabica coffee by farmers, (2) to study the opinions of farmers on the possibility of registering geographical indicators, and (3) to analyze the factors related to opinions on the possibility of registering geographical indicators in the Manee Phruek Village, Ngop sub-district, Thung Chang district, Nan province. The study used a sample group of 96 coffee farmers in the Manee Phruek Village, Ngop sub-district, Thung Chang district, Nan province. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed by using various statistical methods, including frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and multiple regression analysis. The study found that the majority of farmers were females (65.5%), with an average age of 40.10 years and an average coffee cultivation experience of 5.76 years. Attended agricultural training and field visits an average of 1.99 times in the year 2022. The average number of agricultural laborers per household was 3.61. In 2022, they received information about coffee production through meetings or training an average of 1.61 times, with most was not receiving information about geographical indicators and contacting agricultural officials an average of 3.68 times per year. Farmers had a moderate level of knowledge about Thai geographical indicators (average score 6.41) and a high level of knowledge about the principles of coffee production according to the Department of Agricultural Research (average score 12.20). The opinions of motivated were on the possibility of registering geographical indicators for Thai coffee products were at a moderate level (average score 1.32). Furthermore, the study found that coffee cultivation experience (P<0.05), receiving information about coffee production (P<0.05), and knowledge level about Arabica coffee cultivation (P<0.01) were significantly related to farmers' opinions on the possibility of registering geographical indicators for