Extension Needs of Beekeeping in Longan Orchards of Farmers in Numpua Sub-district, Wiang Sa District, Nan Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to study 1) the knowledge of beekeeping, 2) extension needs of beekeeping and 3) problems and suggestions to extension of beekeeping. The population consisted of 250 longan farmers in Numpua sub-district, Wiang Sa district of Nan province who registered with the Department of Agricultural Extension in the production year of 2022/2023. The 154-sample size was based on the Taro Yamane formula with an error value of 0.05. Data collection was obtained by interviews schedule. The data were analyzed by using frequency, percentage, mean, minimum, maximum, standard deviation, and ranking. The results indicated the following: 1) the farmers realized the importance of beekeeping and knew the benefits of beekeeping the most; 2) they needed the extension training content on beekeeping care management the most (  = 4.19), followed by criteria and methods to follow the standards for good agricultural practices for beekeeping farms (  = 4.03), and utilization of beekeeping yields (  = 4.01), respectively. The farmers needed group extension methods at a high level (  = 3.63). 3) the most problems extension of beekeeping for the farmers was capital (  = 3.66). Their suggestions on issue production factors and maintenance management ranked first (  = 4.24). The implications of the study suggest that relevant agencies should facilitate the transfer of knowledge that aligns with farmers' needs, including establishing local learning centers which could allow the farmers to apply this knowledge to the area, generate income, and continue to increase their longan production