Factors Affecting Organic Farming of Farmers in Suphan Buri Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research were 1) to study the level of organic farming and factors affecting the organic farming of farmers in Suphanburi Province; and 2) to study the factors affecting organic farming in Suphanburi Province. The samples were from 204 farmers who registered organic farming with the Suphanburi Provincial Agricultural Extension Office in the form of community enterprises by using the cluster random sampling method. Questionnaires were used in the research. Data were analyzed by basic statistics: frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, and statistical hypothesis testing: Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis and stepwise multiple regression analysis.

The results showed that farmers doing organic farming were at a high level under organic farming standards. The attitude towards organic farming was at its highest level. The organic farming marketing and encouragement were at a high level. As for access to organic farming information and knowledge, it was at a moderate level. In addition, the factors affecting the organic farming of farmers had 5 factors: 1) organic farming marketing, 2) income from organic farming, 3) organic farming encouragement, 4) access to organic farming information, and 5) labor for organic farming.  According to all factors explained that the farmers’ organic farming was 61.7 percent.

From the results of research, government agencies such as provincial agriculture offices, district agriculture offices, and the private sector should focus on communicating information, knowledge about organic farming, marketing benefits, production planning, and allocating benefits to farmers. This is considered to help promote human resource development from upstream, midstream, and downstream to increase productivity and increase the value of produce for organic farmers.