Factors Influencing Regenerative Organic Certification of Coconut Farmers to Create Innovations in the Aromatic Coconut Cultivation of Thailand

Abstract

         The objectives of this research were to study 1) personal factors, basic economic factors, and social factors 2) knowledge on growing aromatic coconuts among coconut farmers in Thailand and
3) differences between personal factors, basic economic factors, and social factors affecting to practice level of Regenerative Organic Certification of coconut farmers to create innovations in the aromatic coconut cultivation of Thailand. The study found that the majority of coconut farmers were male with an average age of 53.26 years old and completed secondary educational level. This may be due to past low family income and limited access to education. Most farmers were married with 1-4 household members, had an average of 10.85 years of experience in growing aromatic coconuts, cultivated 1-10 rai of land, and had an average yield of 4,959.78 coconuts per rai per year with an average income of 42,706.52 baht per rai per year from selling aromatic coconuts. Most farmers used family labor and had personal funding sources, and received information and knowledge from friends, relatives, and acquaintances. The majority had a high knowledge of growing aromatic coconuts. The results of the research hypothesis test revealed that farmers had different levels of education and status using Regenerative Organic Certification to create innovations for growing aromatic coconuts was different at a statistical significance level of 0.01. The number of household members using Regenerative Organic Certification to create innovations for growing aromatic coconuts was different at a statistical significance level of 0.05. Problems encountered in disease and insect pests of aromatic coconuts and a shortageof labor in the cultivation of aromatic coconuts. As for Regenerative Organic Certification for farmers, there is a need for staff to assist in cultivation.