Extension guidelines of rice production according to good agricultural practices of farmers in Huai Haeng Subdistrict, Kaeng Khoi District, Saraburi Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to study extension guidelines of rice production according to good agricultural practices of farmers. Data were collected using interviews with 499 registered rice farmers in Huai Haeng sub-district, Kaeng Khoi district, Saraburi province, registered with the Department of Agricultural Extension for the 2023/2024 season. The sample size was determined using Taro Yamane’s formula with a 0.05 margin of error, resulting in a sample of 222 farmers. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, minimum, maximum, mean, standard deviation, and ranking. The results showed that most farmers were male, with an average age of 51.4 years, a primary school education, and an average farming experience of 32.04 years. The average farm size was 20.15 rai, with an average agricultural income of 174,315.32 baht in 2023. Farmers primarily received GAP-related knowledge from personal sources, such as local wisdom leaders or outstanding farmers, and from mass media sources, particularly through the LINE application. Farmers’ needs for agricultural extension methods were highest for personal approaches, followed by mass media approaches and knowledge-based approaches. Overall, farmers face low levels of problems, with moderate issues in rice production, such as inconsistent record-keeping, and moderate extension-related problems, such as a lack of educational media. The proposed guidelines for promoting rice production in line with GAP included supporting production planning toward GAP certification, organizing study visits related to certification, and promoting the production of standardized rice to increase product value.