Factors Affecting Farmers’ Adoption Hydroponic Vegetables Production on Good Agricultural Practices in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province

Abstract

     The objectives of the study were to investigate, 1) farmers’ backgrounds on social and economic characteristics, 2) farmers’adoption of hydroponic vegetables production on good agricultural practices, 3) factors affecting to farmers’adoption of hydroponic vegetables production on good agricultural practices, and 4) problems and suggestions about hydroponic vegetables production. The sample were 70 farmers. The interview form was created to collect data between June - October 2023. The collected data were analyzed for frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation and multiple regression.

Results of the study revealed that most of the interview respondent were female, 42.50 years old on averages, married, and High school or vocational certificate. They had 4.35 household members and 1.90 workforce on average. The interview respondent had 0.25 rai of an agricultural area and earned an income from hydroponic vegetables production on good agricultural practices for 423,220.40 baht per year on average. They had 2.40 years of experience in hydroponic vegetables production on good agricultural practices. The interview respondent contacted agricultural extension workers 5.30 times per year and attended hydroponic vegetable training 1.80 times a year on average. The interview respondent received information about hydroponic vegetables production 55.20 times per year, and study visits an average of 2.30 times a year on average.

The study results found that farmers’adoption of hydroponic vegetables production on good agricultural practices, all the average on a high level. Factors related to the hydroponic vegetables production on good agricultural practices were a positive relationship including Income from hydroponic vegetables production, size of agricultural area and contact with the agricultural extension officer were statistical significance at 0.05, respectively. The most problem of hydroponic vegetables production was the cultivation area is limited because it is an urban community.