Factors affecting practice on management measures of cassava mosaic disease of farmers in Na Dee Sub-district, Nong Saeng district, Udon Thani province

Abstract

This study was to examine 1) the personal background characteristics of farmers 2) farmers' basic knowledge of cassava mosaic disease 3) farmers' practices in implementing cassava mosaic disease management measures and 4) factors affecting farmers' compliance with cassava mosaic disease management practices (CMDMP) of cassava farmers in Na Dee Sub-district, Nong Saeng District, Udon Thani Province. The sample comprised 89 participants registered with the Department of Agricultural Extension, selected from a total population of 115 registered farmers, including three villages with the highest levels of cassava cultivation and the highest incidence of cassava mosaic disease. Data collection was conducted using a questionnaire with established reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.848). Statistical analysis employed descriptive statistics, complemented by multinomial logistic regression analysis. The results showed that most of the farmers were male, with an average age of 56.02 years, and had completed primary education. Farmers had contact with an agricultural extension officer regarding cassava mosaic disease on average 1.5 times per year. The average number of farm laborers per household was 2.75, and the average farming experience was 12.57 years. The average production cost of cassava was 3,648 baht per rai, with an average yield of 3.9 tons per rai and an average income from selling the produce of 7,205 baht per rai. Farmers have a high level of knowledge about cassava mosaic disease. Compliance with cassava mosaic disease management measures was moderate. The findings revealed that two factors significantly influenced compliance with CMDMP at the significant level of 0.05. First, yield demonstrated a positive relationship with compliance levels. Specifically, a one-unit increase in yield corresponded to a 4.88- and 5.45-fold increase in the likelihood that participants exhibited moderate and high compliance levels, respectively. Second, household labor exhibited a negative relationship.           A rise of one household laborer was associated with a 0.336-fold