COMPONENTS OF COMPETENCE IN ORGANIC RICE SMART FARMER IN THAILAND

Abstract

The Objectives of this research article were to 1)  identify organic rice smart farmer competencies and 2) develop the components of competence in organic rice smart farmer. Mixed method methodology was applied to conduct the studies. The qualitative research was used to identify organic rice smart farmer competencies via in-depth interview and observation with 9 interviewees, where organic rice entrepreneurs have been received the national award. Interviewees selected by purposive sampling technique, then the result was used to identify the components of competence in quantitative research. The data collected with 600 samples, and analyzed via exploratory factor analysis technique, rotating axis with equamax technique. The result found that there were 30 competencies to be an organic rice smart farmer including Information and technology, Financial, Accounting, Organic standard management, Land management, Marketing, Organic rice cultivation, Networking management, Presentation, Production planning management, Water management, Leadership, Innovative problem solving, Knowledge transferring, Seeding selection, Pest and disease control, Agriculture mechanical and technology usage ability, Innovator, Soil analysis and development, Farm management, Research, Communication device usage ability, Legal and policies, Labor management, Production resource management, Logistic and transportation, Power management, Grain management, International language, and Perceived value. The components of competence in organic rice smart farmer consisted of 1) Innovation information technology and communication consisted of 10 competencies, 2) Sociological organic rice cultivation consisted of 8 competencies, 3) environment and ecosystem consisted of 6 competencies, and 4) Organization management consisted of 6 competencies.