ปัจจัยที่มีผลต่อพฤติกรรมการใช้สารชีวภาพกำจัดวัชพืชของเกษตรกรในอำเภอพร้าว จังหวัดเชียงใหม่

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to know the farmers behaviorson using and factors affecting their decision to use or not use bio-herbicides. Needed datawas collected byinterviewing farm households with designed questionnaire. The interviewed farm households consisted with159 bio-herbicides users and 241 non bio-herbicides users. The study employed descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression for data analysis. The study on farmers’ behavior of bio-herbicides use revealedthat the use of bio-herbicides could be divided into solely purchase, solely product on farm and both purchase and produce on farm. Sixty five, 28 and 7 percent of bio-herbicides users were solely purchase, solely product on farm and both purchase and produce on farm respectively.The reasons for farmers decided touse bio-herbicides included being better health of the users and the environment and lower cost of production. It was farm household heads who made the decision on using bio-herbicides. However, suggestions from neighbors or community leaders might also influence some farm households in deciding to use or not use bio-herbicides. The behavior of bio-herbicides users who purchase bio-herbicides (including the solely purchase and both purchase and produce on farm users) demonstrated that 62 percent of the solely purchase users bought bio-herbicides from agricultural input distributors. They preferred to buy the 500-1,000 ml. bio-herbicides container for 4-6 times per annum. On the average, they spent 21,998 baht per household per annum on the bio-herbicides.Similarly, the both purchase and produce on farm users also bought bio-herbicides fromagricultural input distributors. However, they bought merely 1-3 times a year and spent only 10,682 baht per household per year for bio-herbicides they purchased. Regardless whether they were solely purchase or both purchase and produce on farm users, this group of the bio-herbicides usersput more emphasis on the marketing mix when bought bio-herbicides. The behavior of bio-herbicides users who produce bio-herbicides on farm (including the solely produce on farm and both purchase and produce on farm users) showed that the 43 percent of the solely produce on farm users raised reason of reducing production cost for producing bio-herbicides on farm. And each time they produce bio-herbicides, they could use it for 1-6 months. They learnt how to produce bio-herbicides from neighbors or local leaders.Likewise, the both purchase and produce on farm users had the same reason for producing bio-herbicideson farm and learned how to producebio-herbicides as the solely produce on farm group. However, each time they produce bio-herbicides, they could use it for 7-12 months. For the farmers who do not usebio-herbicides, low levels of effectiveness and efficiency of bio-herbicides in controlling weeds as well as lack of the confident on it were the main reasonsfor them not to use bio-herbicides.Nevertheless, these farmers still interested to use bio-herbicides on their own farms in the future. And85 percent of them could access to the information about bio-herbicides from various sources. Considering farmers’ knowledgeofand consciousness on bio-herbicides use,the farm households who usedbio-herbicides had statistically higher knowledge of bio-herbicides, higher conscious on their own health, family members and consumers as well as higher conscious on the impact of using chemical herbicides on the environment than those who did not use bio-herbicides. The analysis of factors affecting farmers’ decision to use or not use bio-herbicides showed that being male genderof the household head, being farmers and wage earning occupation and increasing number of members of community groups could statistically decrease possibility of farmer using bio-herbicides. On the other hand, increasing number of participation in training programs or agricultural visits, higher level of knowledge about bio-herbicides, higher conscious on their own health, family members and consumers, and higher conscious on the impact of using chemical herbicides on the environment could statistically contribute to higher possibility of farmer using bio-herbicides. Based on the results of this study and in order to promote the use of bio-herbicides,it is suggested that government and non-governmentagencies as well as business sectorshould encourage farmers to use bio-herbicides. Effective measures may include providing training program and chances for farmers to visit bio-herbicides-based agricultural activities. More emphasis should be paid on campaigns to raise farmers’ consciousness on their own health, family members and consumers as well as the consciousness on the impact of using chemical herbicides on the environment.