Farmers' Expectation of Alternative Plant Cultivation instead of Maize in Mae Malor Village, Mae Na Chon Subdistrict, Mae Chaem District, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

   The objectives of this study were to Investigate 1) personal, economic, and social characteristics, 2) what factors affect expectations in changing the cultivation of alternative crops, and 3) problems and suggestions for transitioning to alternative crops instead of maize among farmers in Mae Malor village, Mae Na Chon subdistrict, Mae Chaem district, Chiang Mai province. The data was collected using an interview form. the population in this study includes farmers living in Mae Malor Village, Mae Na Chon subdistrict, Mae Chaem district, Chiang Mai province, year 2021, Sample group of farmers used in this study was 89 households. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics and multiple regression analysis.

The results of study revealed that most of the farmers were male (74.16%) average age of 47.17 years. Almost all the samples were married (94.38%) and completed primary school (48.31%). All farmers in Mae Malor Village were of the Karen tribe. and the average crop holding area is 22.06 rai. total average annual household income 209,537.08 baht. During 2020 - 2021, it was found that farmers received training in crop production on average 1.22 times per year. Farmers had expectations of changing the cultivation of alternative crops instead of growing animal feed maize at a high level (𝑥̅ = 3.84), Three factors were found to affect the expectation of changing the cultivation of alternative crops.with statistical significance at the 0.01 level. It was found that there was 1 variable that had a positive effect: having a social position. And the independent variables that affect expectations in changing the cultivation of alternative crops to replace growing animal feed maize overall with statistical significance at the 0.05 level were found to have a total of 2 variables, divided into variables. The variable that has a positive effect is gender and the variable that has a negative statistical relationship is status. The main problems in changing alternative crops to replace maize for animal feed were 3 issues: 1) Promotion 2) Production 3) Marketing