Buying Pesticide Residue Free Vegetables at Higher Prices than General Vegetables of the People of the Three Provinces in the Lowest Southern Thailand

Abstract

Pesticide residues in vegetables are still a risk factor for consumers. Therefore, research is needed to buying pesticide residue free vegetables at a higher price than general vegetables. This research studied the acceptable buying price of people in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat provinces, and analyzed the differences in purchasing according to age groups, educational levels, occupations and incomes. The research method was to survey data with a random sample of 338 people. The data were analyzed for frequency, percentage, and intergroup difference test by Kruscal-Wallis chi-square method. The discoveries were mainly 68.93 percent of people still bought pesticide residue free vegetables even they were more expensive than general vegetables. The intergroup difference test showed the people in each occupation buying pesticide residue free vegetables at a higher price than other vegetables was statistically significantly different (<0.01). People with different ages and monthly incomes bought pesticide residue free vegetables at a higher price than other vegetables was statistically significant different (<0.05). While, people with different education levels bought pesticide residue free vegetables at a higher price than other vegetables were not statistically different. Therefore, pesticide residue free vegetables production or safe farming still has a market opportunity because consumers can accept higher prices than general vegetables. However, the famers or sellers should not sell at a price that is unreasonably high.