Agricultural Extension Service Needs of Sugarcane Farmers in Bo Phloi District, Kanchanaburi Province

Abstract

      This research has the objective to study production conditions and needs for agricultural extension services of sugarcane farmers. A sample of 98 people was sampled using simple lottery. Information was gathered using interview. Hypotheses were tested using t-test and F-test. The results found that the sample farmers were 62.24 percent male, 42.86 percent were over 55 years old, 55.10 percent had completed primary school. 60.20 percent of the farmers had their own land and grew sugarcane using groundwater. Khon Kaen 3 sugarcane variety was popular, 97.96% were planting new sugarcane, 66.33% harvested from December to March, and 84.69 percent harvested fresh sugarcane. 72.45 percent used human labor to harvest, 75.51 percent transported by ten-wheel truck. The distance to the factory/yard was in the range of 21-40 kilometers. 47.96 percent had their own machinery. The agricultural extension service that was most needed in terms of production factors was chemical fertilizer. In terms of capital, maintenance money was needed the most. In terms of promotional projects, what were most needed were projects to install solar cells and irrigation equipment. The services most needed included academic knowledge support. The aspect of production that was needed the most was support for low-interest loans. The most desired aspect of marketing was product price insurance. As for the service aspect from the officials, farmers needed information services the most. The results of the hypothesis testing found that farmers with difference in age, educational level, sugarcane growing experience, and the average distance from the sugarcane plot to the factory/yard will have different demands for agricultural extension services at the statistical significance level of 0.05.