Farmers' Knowledge and Practices of Coffee Production in Bolaven Plateau, Pakchong District, Champasak Province, Lao People's Democratic Republic

Abstract

     The main objective of this research was to study the factors associated with knowledge and practices in coffee production among farmers. The sample consisted of 172 coffee-producing farmers in Pakchong district, Champasak province, Lao People's Democratic Republic, determined by using Taro Yamane's formula was used to allow a sampling error of 7 percent. Data was collected through interviews conducted between November - December 2023. The statistical analyses included frequency, percentage, maximum, minimum, standard deviation, and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that 68% of farmers were male with an average age of 43.57 years. They had completed primary education and had an average of 4.046 household labore. The average coffee plantation area was 12.45 rai with an average yield of 1,427.72 kg/rai and an average net income of 31,409.86 baht/rai from coffee production. Almost all farmers did not receive information or training on coffee production. Overall, farmers had a moderate level of knowledge on coffee production and a high level of coffee production practices. The results of the hypothesis testing found that the factors that significantly affected farmers' knowledge levels on coffee production (p≤0.05) were gender, age, and contact with agricultural extension officers. Factors that significantly affected farmers' coffee production practices (p≤0.05) were age, hired labor, their own area, and average net income from coffee production per rai.