Status of Dried Betel Nut Production of Farmers in Kong Ra District, Phatthalung Province

Abstract

This survey research aims to study status of dried betel nut production, which is an interesting
subsidiary occupation of farmers in Kong Ra district, Phatthalung province. The objectives of this research
were to explore farmers’ socio-economic characteristics, including their production and selling of dried
betel nut, and identify the internal and external factors affecting dried betel nut production of farmers.
Primary data were collected by structured interviews, non-participant observations, natural conservations
and in-depth interviews. The sample consisted of 135 farm household growing betel nut trees. These
samples were selected by using the multi-stage sampling method. Descriptive statistics, content analysis
and SWOT analysis were used for data analysis. The results showed that most of the farmers were female
with an average experience in dried betel nut production of 18.05 years. Their main occupation was a
para-rubber farmer. The farmers operated dried betel nut in conventional manners, slitting betel nuts with
a big knife and drying by sunshine. The dried betel nuts were wholesaled to middlemen. Farmers’
know-how in dried betel nut production was the dominant strength whereas marketing information was the
dominant weakness. Demand for dried betel nut was the dominant opportunity while government policy

was the dominant threat. To enhance potential of the dried betel nut production, this research suggests
that should be adjusted as follow: promotion of dried betel nut production as a subsidiary occupation,
increase in efficiency of the dried betel nut production, and support for research and development of
appropriate technology for the dried betel nut production.