Factors Affecting Good Agricultural Practices of Quality Strawberry Farmers, Samoeng District, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to study physical, economic, and social characteristics of quality strawberry production under good agricultural practices and analyze the factors affecting good agricultural practices of quality strawberry farmers in Samoeng district, Chiang Mai province. The sample of this research was strawberry farmers in Samoeng district, Chiang Mai province of 241 cases from a simple random sampling method. The interview schedules and focus group discussion were used to collect data between January and July 2021. Descriptive statistics such as percentage, mean, maximum, minimum, and standard deviation were applied for data analysis, and multiple regression analysis were used for analyzing the relationship between the independent variables and dependent variables. The results revealed that most of the farmers were male, average age of 43.47 years, and finished primary school, the average strawberry cultivation experience was 11.84 years, the average strawberry planting area was 2.82 rai, and the average net income was 126,019.71 baht per year. Farmers had perception about good agricultural practices at a moderate level and had a good attitude about good agricultural practices. The result of the hypothesis testing found that factors affecting good agricultural practices of quality strawberry correlated with positive statistically significant (P < 0.01) were the attitude towards GAP (Sig. = 0.000) and contact with an officer about GAP (Sig. = 0.006).