Extension Model of Sustainable Coconut Pest Control for Coconut Farmers in the Eastern Region

Abstract

          The objectives of this research were to study 1) coconut production system and the use of technology in coconut pest control in the eastern region 2) good practices in sustainable coconut pest control of coconut production farmers in the eastern region 3) good practices in sustainable coconut pest control of coconut production farmers in the eastern region 4) the development of extension model in sustainable coconut pest control of coconut production farmers in the eastern region. This was the research a development. 1) The sample group of 156 farmers who participated in large collective farming (coconut) came from using simple random sampling method; 2) 12 expert farmers in coconut production; 3) 6 experts.   Data were collected from conducting interview and were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, component analysis, and content analysis.
           The results of the research found that 1) most of the farmers were male, grew coconut for curry, cultivated coconut according to academic principle, self-selected coconut, had knowledge about coconut pests such as Coconut rhinoceros beetle, red palm weevil, coconut black-headed caterpillar, and coconut hispine beetle. Most of them received knowledge from the agricultural extension officers 2) Farmers practiced according to good agricultural practice (GAP). They knew about pest control by using cultivation method, biological method, and chemical method together in coconut pest control. 3) Extension guidelines from the government agencies through using various media in various forms such as pamphlets, manuals, and posters. For the extension methods, they were done through demonstration and practice. 4) The extension model in sustainable coconut pest control of coconut production farmers in the eastern region consisted of 4 components: safe environmental management, group formation extension for sustainability, chemical pest control, and pest control using chemical method. 5) The results of the model evaluation were at the highest level with the appropriateness and relevance to the context and the ability  to adapt in to real practices.