Evaluation of Knowledge and Practice on Standard of Good Agricultural Practice of Vegetable Farmers in Ban Chean Sub-District, Hun Kha District, Chai Nat Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to study general information of vegetable farmers in Banchean Sub-District, Hun-Kha District, Chai Nat Province and to evaluate their knowledge of practice on standard of good agricultural practice (GAP) of vegetable farmers. The sample were 16 numbers of vegetable farmers in Banchean Sub-District. Data were collected through structured questionnaire interviews and focus group discussion. There was analyzed by using values of frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. The results reveal that most of the vegetable farmers were female, average age 41-60 years old, primary education or lower, marital status, one child, household members with 3-4, their average income from growing vegetables was 4,457 baht/month. The average experience of GAP vegetable growers was 11.6 years, crop pattern was mostly integrated agriculture with 62.50 percent (  = 0.63, S.D. = 0.50), and planted area were 1-30 rai. Their product was sold by themselves. Mostly of the area used for cultivation the GAP vegetable was lowland, sandy soil, irrigation system access in some areas and doughtiness. Most farmers known GAP cultivation but more than 50 percent (  = 0.56, S.D. = 0.51) never training from agricultural extension officers. It showed that the most of the farmers were female. The average age was 41-60 years old and cultivation experience more than 10 years but they have no knowledge about GAP agricultural practices. Overall, they had a few basic of GAP of perspective and practices for vegetable production on GAP standard. For further research, the farmers should be additional training for GAP cultivation and pest management, soil and water analysis, more extensive using of biofertilizer, and certification