QUALITY OF LIFE OF DURIAN FARMERS IN BAN THAMNEEP SUBDISTRICT, KHIRIRAT NIKHOM DISTRICT, SURAT THANI PROVINCE

Abstract

This research aimed to (1) study the quality of life of durian farmers in Ban Tham Niap Subdistrict, Khiri Rat Nikhom District, Surat Thani Province, and (2) compare their quality of life classified by personal factors such as gender, age, education level, monthly income, and years of farming experience. The sample consisted of 265 durian farmers selected using Taro Yamane’s formula. The research instrument was a structured questionnaire tested for validity and reliability. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (t-test and ANOVA). The findings revealed that most respondents were male, aged 30–40 years, held a bachelor’s degree, earned an average monthly income between 10,001–20,000 baht, and had 1–10 years of farming experience. Most worked with family members, had received agricultural training, and expressed high satisfaction with their profession. The overall quality of life was rated at a “very high” level (mean = 4.46). The highest average dimension was environment, followed by social, economic, and health aspects, respectively. The hypothesis testing showed that different personal factors affect different quality of life.