Participation in Creating Added Value of Betel Nut Farmers in Bang Tin Pet Subdistrict, Mueang Chachoengsao District, Chachoengsao Province

Abstract

     The objectives of this research were to study 1) personal basic factors and socio-economic factors 2) needs to create added value to betel nut, 3) participation of farmers in creating added value to betel nut, 4) relationship of factors to farmers' participation in creating added value, 5) problems and suggestions. The sample group was 84 betel nut farmers by using interviews to collect data. Statistics used include frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, minimum, maximum, and Chi-square to test the hypothesis. The research shown that most betel nut farmers were female, an average age of 64.62 years old, marital status, had a primary education level, an average agricultural family member was 1.52 people, an average farming experience was 29.90 years. The average farming area was 5.98 rai, an average betel nut productivity was 788.69 kg/year, an average income was 26,261.90 Baht/year. The need to create added value was at a high level with an average of 2.43 and participation in create added value to betel nut at moderate level with an averaging of 1.68. The hypothesis testing found that agricultural areas, income, and needs in creating added value of betel nut were related to participation in creating added value of betel nuts at a statistical significance level of 0.01, gender was related to in creating added value of betel nuts at a statistical significance level of 0.05. Due to decreased income but the yield was the same. This makes farmers want to participate in creating added value. The problems of farmers where a community of Bang Tin Ped Subdistrict was farmers lack participation in solving the situation of price decline, lacked joint activities, and lack of knowledge to change patterns and create added value for betel nuts.