Behavior of vegetable production and attitude towards safe vegetable production of farmers in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province

Abstract

The objective of this research is to study the behavior of vegetable production, and attitude towards agriculture, social, and economic of safe vegetable production of farmers in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province. The sampling group (n=360), who is vegetable growers in the province, was surveyed by an interview questionnaire. The vegetable farmers were a principal occupation (3.06%), while they were a supplementary career from rice farming (52.22%). Most farmers (57.14%) use the mix of chemicals and biological substances in vegetable crops, followed by the chemical, and organic production (29.11 and 13.75%, respectively). The average vegetable planting area was 2.11 rai/farmer, and the farmers likely to produce many kinds of vegetables in the crop. The major farmer behaviors of vegetable production (73.33 - 94.72%) were shown for having proper harvesting, using chemicals and controlling the use of chemicals, buying seeds, and having post-harvest system. On the other hand, the minor farmer behaviors of vegetable production were to examine soil and water qualities, select skilled workers, and examine chemical residues of agricultural product (23.33, 17.22 and 10.28%, respectively). For the marketing channels, the agent came to pick the products up at the planting area (44.17%), followed by selling at local markets. The attitude towards agriculture of safe vegetable production of farmers is at strongly agree level for awareness of the risks of using pesticides, as well as harmful to the health of themselves and consumers. However, the farmers still need to use chemicals for agricultural production to meet the market needs. In addition, they agree that safe vegetable production is more difficult than that use chemicals. As attitudes towards social of safe vegetable production, they strongly agree that the support and assistance of government agencies are on a regular basis, and responsibility for safe vegetable production is belong to the producers and suppliers. In studying of economic attitudes of vegetable farmers, they deeply agree that self-sufficient farming allows savings, and moderately agree that the farmer group provides more benefits. Therefore, the farmers should deeply have a knowledge and understanding about the proper production according to the principles of sanitation or good agricultural practices to produce a truly safe vegetable for producers and consumers.