Factors Relating to Opinion to Become Smart Farmer of Farmers in Bang Sao Thong District, Samut Prakan Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research were: 1) to study basic demographic, socio-economic, knowledge factors about Smart Farmer, external support factors and exposure to agricultural information 2) to study opinion on becoming Smart Farmer 3) to examine relationship between basic demographic, socio-economic, knowledge factors about Smart Farmer,external support factors and exposure to agricultural information and the opinion on becoming Smart Farmer. The samples were 325 farmers. Data were collected by using the questionnaire. Statistic to analyze data included frequency distribution, percentage, arithmetic mean, standard division, maximum score, minimum score and chi-square test. The research revealed that 1) most farmers were male with the average age 53.92 years old, attained primary education, were married, had 4-5 family members, gained average experience in farming 27.93 years and did integrated farming. Average income from agriculture was 279,520 Bath/year, average income from non-agriculture was 61,050.77 Bath/year, an average land for agriculture 17.89 rai, average agricultural labors 2.92 persons. Most of farmers had loan for agriculture. They had knowledge about Smart Farmer was at the high level. The supports from the government and the private sector were at the moderate level.Farmers received agricultural information from the agricultural extension officials at the District Agricultural Extension Office,via television and training/special lecture. 2) Farmers expressed the opinion on becoming Smart Farmer was at the moderate level. 3) Marital status, type of farming and the exposure to agricultural information from mass media were statistically related to opinion on becoming Smart Farmer of farmers in Bang Sao Thong district, Samut Prakan province at 0.05 level of significance.