Analysis of pineapple production costs based on farmer behavior Nong Phanchan Subdistrict, Ban Kha District, Ratchaburi Province

Abstract

Ratchaburi is one of the four provinces in the western region with the total production and harvested area in 2024 ranked second in the country. However, due to the continuous drought problem, the yield per rai is low, and nitrate residues are left behind from excessive use of chemical fertilizers or growth acceleration. From the analysis of production costs, it was found that behavior and environment have different relationships with pineapple production costs and break-even points of farmers in each area. The results of the operation through the production process that farmers practice the same in 3 different zones, found 1. The area is mostly hilly, resulting in a lack of water sources for agriculture. Transportation is far from the purchasing source, resulting in a production cost of 10.91 baht/m ², with an average break-even point of 0.16 kilograms/m ² or 1.27 baht/m ². 2. The area is mostly flat, has water sources for agriculture, is near the product purchasing source, but is outside the project area promoted by the government (large-scale project), and produces according to each family's knowledge. The production cost is 14.33 baht/m ², and the break-even point is 0.40 kilograms/m ² or 2.83 baht/m ². And 3. The area is mostly flat, has water sources for agriculture, is near the product purchasing source, is in the project area promoted by the government (large-scale project), and has a learning center. The production cost is 12.01 baht/m ², and the break-even point is 0.25 kilograms/m ² or 1.98 baht/m ². Supporting factors include hard soil problems, the use of organic matter, topsoil burning, the importance of changing only the topsoil, the management of old diseased seedlings, and the accumulation of underground weeds.