AREA-BASED MANAGEMENT EXTENSION MODEL OF RICE FARMERS IN THE LOWER NORTHEASTERN REGION OF THAILAND

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to 1) study area-based management extension of rice farmers groups, 2) analyze the area-based management extension of rice farmer groups, 3) develop the area-based management extension model of the rice farmer groups. This study was conducted by mix method. The populations were the rice farmers who have been participating in area-based management extension and extension officers. This study was conducted in 3 steps according to the objectives. In step 1, 85 presidents and committees and 170-member farmers were sampled by multi-stage sampling. The questionnaires were used to collect data, which were analyzed by descriptive statistic and Paired T-Test. In step 2 and 3, the best practices farmers and relevant extension officers were sampled by purposive method and were interviewed in focus group discussion. The content analysis and SWOT analysis were used.

The study shows that the practices of farmers who have been participating in area-based management extension along rice supply chain management have been increased significantly (sig = 0.00), at confident level = 95%. Farmers received knowledges from training and visiting, Lead farmers-to-farmers training, group meeting, learning stations, demo training plots, etc. The proposed model consists of sender, message, channel, and receiver aspect.