Factors Affecting Farmers' Decision Making on Integrated Farming in Kabinburi District, Prachinburi Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to study (1) social and economic conditions of farmers (2) the conditions of integrated farming, (3) factors affecting farmers' decision making on integrated farming, and (4) problems and suggestions of integrated farming. The population consisted of 196 integrated farming farmers in Kabinburi district Prachinburi province who registered with the Department of Agricultural Extension in the production year of 2021. The 130-sample size was based on Taro Yamane formula with the error value of 0.05. Structured interviews were used for data collection. Statistics used were frequency, percentage, mean, minimum, maximum, standard deviation, and multiple regression. The results indicated the following: (1) Most of the farmers were female with average age of 58.02 years old, and finished elementary school and own agricultural area. There were 2.13 average number of workers in integrated farming, average farming experience 12.28 years, the average household income from the agricultural sector was 110,796.19 baht per year, average household expenditure from the agricultural sector was 29,965 baht per year, average cost of integrated agricultural production was 21,393.85 baht per year. The average agricultural yield was 1,141.38 kilograms per rai. (2) The condition of the agricultural area was plain. There was a form of integrated farming, using; manure to improve the soil, and water from their own ponds/wells for irrigation. (3) Factors affecting farmers' decision making on integrated farming. There was one independent variable, namely farming experience that affects the dependent variable with statistical significance at the 0.01 level. And (4) Farmers were problems with soil fertility and agricultural water resources. For suggestions, the staff shouldtransfer knowledge about soil improvement, support water sources in agriculture, transfer knowledge on planning/risk management in agriculture, support the agricultural machinery, and motivate the new generation to turn to agricultural sector