Factors Affecting Avocado Growers’ Adoption of Avocado Production under Good Agricultural Practices in Phop Phra District, Tak Province

Abstract

         The objective of this study was 1) study the basic personal, economic and social characteristics of avocado growers in Phop Phra district, Tak province 2) study the factors affecting on Good Agricultural Practices of avocado growers. Data were collected through questionnaires from a sample group of 148 large scale avocado production. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, maximum, minimum, standard deviation, and multiple regression analysis. The study results showed that most of avocado growers were male. Their average age was 46.09 years old with junior secondary education. There were 2.90 household labors in agriculture and 3.62 labors in avocado growing. The avocado growing experience was 4.55 years and avocado growing area was 9.18 rai. Their earned income of avocado per area as 2,479.20 bath per rai. Most avocado growers received the information about GAP from agricultural extension officers. The avocado growers attended a GAP training average 3.07 times per year and contacted with agricultural extension officers average 3.74 times per year. The avocado growers’ knowledge of good agricultural practices is high level with an average 10.11 points and an uncertain attitude of good agricultural practices with a mean 3.14. The related factors affecting avocado growers’ adoption of Good Agricultural Practices in Phop Phra district, Tak province which the statistically significant at the 0.05 level was good agricultural practices training was positively correlated with adoption of GAP and statistically significant at the 0.01 level were avocado growing area was negatively correlated with adoption of GAP and labor in avocado growing was positively correlated with adoption of GAP.