Development of Knowledge Sharing and Network Connection System for Model Farmers Producing and Processing Mangoes to Assist New Generation Farmers to Become Young Smart Farmers

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to develop knowledge sharing and network connection system for model farmers producing and processing mangoes to assist new generation farmers to become young smart farmers, to evaluate the system efficiency, and to investigate the system usage results and users’ satisfaction. The samples were three qualified model farmers who produced and processed mangoes in Chachoengsao Province, and whose products were selected as OTOP Products of the province, and 16 third-year undergraduate students who were heirs to mango production or processing business, enrolled at Rajabhat Rajanagarindra University and voluntarily participated in the research project. The purposive sampling technique was used to obtain both groups of the samples. The research tools were: 1) an in-depth interview, 2) a focus group discussion form, 3) the knowledge sharing system via mobile application, 4) a system efficiency evaluation form, 5) a system usage evaluation form, and 6) a satisfaction evaluation form. Arithmetic mean and standard deviation were employed to analyze the data.

It was found that the knowledge sharing system consisted of a main menu screen, content modules of mango production for export, marketing, precision farming, risk management, cost accounting, model farmers, evaluation of development of farmers’ heirs and modern entrepreneurs, knowledge sharing modules, and the module provider. The evaluation of the system efficiency revealed as a whole that it was at the highest level. Regarding the system usage evaluation, the study showed that it could develop the students to become young smart farmers in the area of mango production and processing at the highest level. As for the investigation of the satisfaction, it was found that the students were satisfied with the system at the highest level.