Use of Technology for Increasing Sugarcane Production of Farmers, Phu Khiao District, Chaiyaphum Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research were: 1) to study basic demographic factors, socio-economic factors, planting factors, and knowledge about sugarcane; 2) to study the use of sugarcane production technology and information and communication technology for increasing sugarcane production of farmers; 3) to compare the use of sugarcane production technology and communication technology for increasing sugarcane production of farmers classified by basic demographic factors, socio-economic factors, planting factors, and knowledge about sugarcane; and 4) to seek for problems and suggestions about sugarcane production technology and communication technology for increasing sugarcane production of farmers. Data were collected by using interview questionnaire from 387 farmers growing sugarcane in Phu Khiao district, Chaiyaphum province. Data were analyzed and presented through frequency, percentage, arithmetic mean, minimum, maximum, standard deviation, t-test, and F-test. Research findings found that farmers were female. On an average, they aged 54.49 years old, attained primary education, had experiences in sugarcane planting 13.89 years, earned income 11,208.77 baht/rai/year, and spent cost of production 7,420.13 baht/rai. Most of them had their own land, loaned money from Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives/agricultural cooperatives/commercial banks, and were membership of farmers’ groups. Farmers received information about sugarcane from neighborhood/community leaders, radio/television, and meeting. Most farmers did not receive information from online social media. On an average, they had 2.14 household labors, 5.84 hired labors, grew sugarcane cultivar Khon Kaen III sugarcane variety, average yield of 13.93 ton/rai, average planting areas 18.15 rai under clay soil , and grew sugarcane in February-March. Farmers had knowledge about sugarcane at the high level. Overall, farmers no use of technology for increasing sugarcane production. Hypothesis testing found that farmers who differed in age, educational attainment, group membership, land ownership, number of hired labors, the information exposure of farmers were mass media, activity media and online social media, sugarcane planting area, and type of soil for growing sugarcane would differ in using of technology for increasing technology of sugarcane production at 0.05 and 0.01 level of significance. Therefore, agriculture extension officer should train advanced production technology or new technologies and the use of information and communication technology to plan and increase sugarcane production in the future.