Factors Influencing Organic Agriculture Standards Practices of Organic Vegetable Farmers in Vientiane Capital, Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Abstract

     The objectives of this research were to study 1) farmer’s personal characteristics, social and economic information, 2) farmer’s knowledge, attitude and practice of organic agriculture, 3) factors influencing farmer’s practice of organic agriculture standards and 4) problems and recommendations on organic farming of organic vegetable farmers in Vientiane, Lao PDR. Data were collected with questionnaire from sample group of 160 farmers and analyzed by using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics.
     The research found two-thirds of farmers (68.13%) were female with average age of 45.55 years, half of them (53.12%) graduated higher than primary level. The farmers had an average 3.16 rai of organic agriculture area, which earned 218,775 Baht per year of family income during 6.91 years in average of organic farming experience, received agricultural information 2.97 time a month and participated in agricultural training 2.68 time per year. The farmers possessed a medium knowledge (=15.24), while their attitude toward organic farming were at a high level (=4.21), leading their practice of organic agriculture as a whole were also at a high level (=4.20). There were five factors influencing farmer’s practice according to organic agriculture standards (Sig<.05) consisted organic farming area, receiving agricultural information, agricultural training or trip, knowledge and attitude on organic agriculture. Most of farmers had problems on organic farming included disease and pest protection, lack of production factor and unstable market. Thereby, some of them recommended to relevant agencies should continuously encourage agricultural knowledge and useful information, support grant for agricultural input such as organic seed and fertilizer as well as allocation of stable market which could help them to produce according to standards efficiently.