Needs for Agricultural Extension Services of Large Agricultural Land Plot Mangosteen Growers in Langsuan District, Chumphon Province

Abstract

          The objectives of this research were: 1) to study the basic demographic characteristics, socio-economics and current product promotional activities of mangosteen farmers with large plots in Langsuan district, Chumphon province and then: 2) to analyze their needs for further promotional activities in terms of their demographics, socio-economics and existing promotional activities. With respect to the first objective, the results revealed that farmers had an average age of 56 years. The majority of them had secondary school/vocational certificate level educations, and they had been growing mangosteens for an average of 27.75 years. There were usually two household laborers employed on a plot. The average amount of mangosteen production was 1,223.09 kilograms/rai. The average income from selling mangosteens was 41,666.67 Baht/rai/ year. Most of the farmers were Tha Maphla growers’ group members. They had received information and support and regularly participated in agricultural promotional activities in the area. In general, the farmers’ level of need for further agricultural promotional services was at the moderate level. Hypothesis testing showed that farmers who had different levels of experience in growing mangosteens had different levels of demand for further promotional services at a statistical significance level of 0.01. As for farmers who produced different amounts of mangosteen products, had different incomes from selling mangosteens, and who participated in agricultural activities in different areas, they too had different needs for further promotional services and these results were statistically significant at 0.05. Moreover, farmers who had different number of household laborers, who were members of groups in different areas, got their information from different sources, and who had different levels of existing promotional activities, had different levels of demand for extra agricultural promotional services at the statistical significance levels of 0.05 and 0.01.