Adoption of Organic Agriculture of Mango Farmers, San Sai District, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

     The objective of the study were: 1) socio economic attributes of farmers growing organic mangoes; 2) the farmers attitudes towards organic agriculture in mango orchards; 3) factors effecting the adoption of organic agriculture in mango orchards of the farmer and 4) problems encountered and suggestions about the adoption of organic agriculture of the farmers. The sample group consisted of 167 farmers growing mangoes in Sansai district, Chiang Mai province. A set of questionnaires was used for data collection and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression.
     From research finding, it was found that the majority of farmers were male, the average of age were 52 years old on average, and elementary school graduates. They had 5 household members and 2 of them were household workforce on average. The respondents had 2 rai of a mango growing area each and earned an income for 226,000 bath per year an average. They earned on income from growing other crops for 104,034 bath and from non-agricultural sector for 106,128 bath per year on average. The respondents had 5 years of experience in organic agriculture on average. They contacted personnel of public and the private sectors for 6 time per year on average. They perceived information about organic agriculture technology through public agencies for 24 times per year on average. As a whole, Most of the respondents had a highest level of their agreement to organic agriculture in terms of yield selling and harvest. ( = 4.05) Based on its details, yield selling was found to have the highest average mean score ( = 4.19). The was followed by harvest ( = 4.09), yied processing ( = 4.07) and preparation of soil and cultivation area ( = 4.01). However, disease and insect prevention was found to have least agreement ( = 3.89) As a whole, the respondents had a high level of the adoption of organic agriculture Based on its details, it was found that the respondents adopted organic agriculture Most in terms of yield processing ( = 3.93.). This was followed by harvest ( = 3.89), preparation of soil and cultivation area ( = 3.85), yield selling ( = 3.74), and disease/insect prevention ( = 3.73), respectively. Factors effecting the adoption of organic agriculture with a statistical significance level were age (sig = 0.016), educational attainment (sig = 0.000), agriculture workforce (sig = 0.000) and attitude towards organic agriculture (sig = 0.000)
     Regarding problems encountered and suggestions, the following were found 1) Mango growing which included selection of appropriate varieties, inequal of mango size and some grow slowly. Hence, legumes should be grown alongside with mango trees for soil nourishment and good water drainage. Application of compost is also recommended. 2) Plant diseases caused by insect and fungi so appropriate bio-fermented water should be used for pest control. 3) harvest and post – harvest Ashish included inadequate workforce, oriental fruit fly and methods of long keeping. Thus, the public sector should extend knowledge about appropriate and correct yield management after harvest. 4) Yield processing which included sour taste and fungi in the product. Hence, concerned agencies in processing should hold a training to meet needs of mango farmers.