Factors Effecting Rice Cultivation under Organic Farming Standards of Farmers Mueang District, Phayao Province

Abstract

     The study was conducted to investigate: 1) socio-economic attributes and knowledge about organic agriculture standards of farmers; 2) rice growing practice under organic agriculture standards of the farmers; 3) factors effecting organic rice growing practice of the farmers; and 4) problems encountered and suggestions about organic rice growing practice of the farmers. A set of questionnaires was used for data collection administered with a sample group of 125 organic rice farmers in Mueang district, phayao province. Obtained data were analyzed by using Multiple regression and descriptive statistics.

     Results of the study revealed that most of the respondents were male, 59 years old on averages, married, and elementary school graduates or below. They had 4 household members and 4 workforce on average. The respondents had 6.01 rai of an agricultural area and earned an income from organic rice growing for 30,732.46 baht per year on average. The respondents perceived new or information about organic rice growing for 87 times per year on average and mainly through the television. They contacted the agricultural extension worker twice a year and the organic rice farmer group twice a year on average. The respondents attended a training or rice growing under organic agriculture standards twice a year on average. Most of the respondents were not village committee members and they did not have any social position.

     Findings showed that the respondents had a moderate level of organic rice growing practice. The following factors had on effect on organic rice growing practice with a statistical significance level: age, training on rice growing under organic agriculture standards, and knowledge about organic agriculture standards. The following were problems encountered: complicated data recording system, diseases, insects/weeds, and low price of yields. The following were suggestions by the respondents: 1) concernedagency should prepare a simple data recording system; 2) a training on pest prevention and control; and 3) support the price of organic rice to be higher than general rice.