Farmers’ Needs of Organic Rice Production Extension in Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

     The objectives of this study were to study 1) the socio-economic of farmers producing organic rice in Chiang Mai Province; 2) analyze farmers’ needs of organic rice production extension in Chiang Mai province; and 3) analyze factors having relationships with farmers’ needs of organic rice production extension in Chiang Mai province. The sample were 183 farmers who joining the project on the extension of organic rice production in Chiang Mai province. Data collection using interviewing. Statistical techniques used were frequency, mean, percentage, maximum value, minimum value, and standard deviation. Besides, stepwise multiple regression analysis was conducted for hypothesis testing. From research findings, it was found that the majority of respondents were male, 54.26 years old average, elementary school graduates and they had an experience in organic rice growing for 7.86 years on average. Each of the informant had and area for organic rice growing for 7.18 rai on average. The water supply for organic rice production was mostly from irrigation. Average organic rice yield 552.42 kg per rai with an income of 32,631.13 baht per year on average. They were members of an organic rice production group and they used to attend a training on organic rice production. It was found that the informants had a high level of needs for organic rice production ( = 2.51). This included the following: knowledge about principle of organic rice production ( = 2.57); extension of organic rice production method ( = 2.55); support from the government ( = 2.42) respectively. Educational attainment, debts, and channels of organic farming perception had an effect on needs for the extension of organic rice production of the farmers with a statistical significance level at 0.05