Farmers Knowledge and Behavior in Using of Chemicals for Protection and Pest Elimination in Ban Sieo Sub-district, Fak Tha District, Uttaradit Province

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to study the guidelines for reducing use of chemical for protect and pest eliminate. The quantitative research of this study was 257 farmers in Ban Sieo Sub-district, Fak Tha District, Uttaradit Province. The samples were selected by accidental sampling. The data were collected by using of questionnaires and analyzed with descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The result showed that most farmers were male (58.82%), the farmers’ average age was 55.04 ± 10.82 years old, and had primary school education at level (63.49%). Most of farmers cultivated rice at (46.44%). Mainly source of investment funds for produce agriculture was from the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (86.13%) and source of knowledge in using pesticides was from official staff (26.58%). Overall average means score of knowledge of farmers was high (84.33%). Most farmers had the highest score of knowledge before using pesticides at (89.71%). The overall mean score of behavior in using pesticides was 3.58 ± 0.36 (high level). However, the correlation between the knowledge and behaviors regarding pesticides usage was positive at statistically significant level (r = 0.66, P<0.01). And most farmers had the highest score of behavior before using pesticides at (4.38 ± 0.35). Therefore, every organization should be emphasized to correct and to make appropriation of knowledge and behavior of farmers for using pesticides.