Factors Affecting Acceptance of Regenerative Organic Certification of Aromatic Coconut Farmers in Central Areas of Thailand

Abstract

     The objective of this research was to study the basic personal information regarding social and economic aspects, and factors affecting the acceptance of regenerative organic certification of 298 aromatic coconut farmers in the central areas of Thailand in 2022. The sample size was 171 people. The data was collected using interviews. The interview questions were conducted separately from selected sample group had received reliability score of 0.89. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Enter Method of Multiple Regression. The study found that most of the farmers (70.80%) were male with an average age of 51.35 years old. The average experience in growing aromatic coconuts was 20.25 years, average income from growing aromatic coconuts was 3,256,168.42 baht per year, and average cost of production was 1,464,056.89 baht per year. The average aromatic coconut production was 9,113.68 fruits per rai per year. The overview of the acceptance of regenerative organic certification showed that farmers accepted it at a moderate level (average 2.16). This acceptance included: 1) soil and water management, where most farmers had a high level of acceptance (average 2.69); 2) animal husbandry and animal welfare; and 3) fairness for farmers and laborers, where farmers had a moderate level of acceptance (averages of 1.97 and 1.83, respectively). There are 6 variables which affect farmer acceptability towards the regenerative organic certification. The variables that have positive effect on the dependent variable were gender, average income from growing aromatic coconuts, total labor used in producing aromatic coconuts, cultivation area of aromatic coconuts, and raising animals on aromatic coconut farms. The variable that has negative effect on the dependent variable was age.