Factors affecting the decision to select a palm oil palm plantation business for small-scale palm oil buyers in Chumphon Province

Abstract

The objectives of this survey research were to study 1) personal factors of palm oil retailer who were target population under study 2) supporting factors. Samples included 60 palm oil retailers in Chumphon province. Questionnaire was used as a tool to collect the data. Statistics used in this study included both descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation) and inferential statistics (t-test, F-test or one-way ANOVA together with multiple comparison test using Scheffe’, Pearson correlation). Level of significance used was 0.05.

            Outcome of the research revealed that mean scores on the choice to purchase palm oil from oil palm bunch collection centers were high on a given rating scale in every aspect. Mean scores on viability of business, situation of palm oil market, expectation, motivation were high. The study also indicated that retailers with different sexes, age, education did differ in their purchasing decision while those with different monthly income did not differ in their choice. Study of relationship showed that viability of business was not correlated to their choice of purchase while it was positively correlated to situation of palm oil (r=.380; relationship was poor) and was positively correlated to expectation (r=0.348; relationship was moderate. On the other hand, viability of business was positively correlated to motivation (r=.679; relationship was moderate). Major reason given on their choice of business were business opportunity and few competitors.