Roles of Young Farmer Group Members on Agricultural Extension in Mae Ai District, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

This study aimed to explore: 1) socio – economic factors and supplementary of young farmer group members in Mae Ai district, Chiang Mai province; 2) roles of young farmer group members on agricultural extension; and 3) factors related to roles of the young farmer group members on agricultural extension. A set of questionnaires was used for data collection administered with 188 young farmer group members obtained by simple random sampling. Obtained data were analyzed using the statistical package; frequency, percentage, standard deviation, t-test and multiple regression analysis. Finding showed that most of the respondents were male and lower and upper secondary school students (Math–Science program). Their family’s annual income was 90,606.58 baht on average and the main occupation of their family head was farming. The respondents had been members of young farmer group for 2 years on average and there was communication with in their group, including their advisors. They were suggested to attend training on young farmers’ tasks for 3 times per year on average. Besides, the respondents had learned news on agriculture through printed materials most (20 times per year on average). It was found that the respondents had a moderate level (=3.30) of roles as a whole based on the following: 1) production and marketing (=3.37); 2) natural resource conservation and development   (=3.38); 3) community development (=3.26); and 4) coordination with agricultural workers (=3.21). Findings also showed that there was a significant difference between expected and actual roles. An average mean score of the expected roles was higher than that of the actual roles in all aspects had a statistically significant relationship (0.001). Regarding a multiple regression analysis, it was found that the following factors: age, educational attainment, parent support, and agricultural information perception had a significant relationship (p<0.5).