Factors Determining Farmer’s Decision on Area Expansion of Oil Palm Plantation in Pak Phanang Basin Area, Nakhon Si Thammarat province

Abstract

This study is a survey research aimed at analyzing the production characteristics, production management and also focused on the factors influenced to the expansion of cultivated areas of oil palm that were outside zoning areas in Pak Phanang Basin Area, Nakhon Si Thammarat province. The data were collected using structured questionnaires from a total sample of 405 oil palm farmers. Appropriate descriptive statistics and logistic regression were applied to analyze such factors. The study found that farmers in the area study had a small oil palm plantation. Most of planted areas located in the flooded area in the rainy season, causing the need to be improving plantation area before planting. For production management and harvesting, there was no shortage of labor and the problem of distribution oil palm products. Most farmers’ income had increased and become more stable. However, most farmers in the area did not have plans to expand the oil palm planting area. Moreover, the result revealed that the factors affected to the expansion of oil palm areas, number of household member, knowledge of oil palm plantation, source of distribution oil palm fruits, improving plantation area and source of water were those of positive significant factors on the decision of farmers to expand new planting areas. Whereas the factors, main occupation and membership of farmers groups were found to had negative significant influences on the decision of expansion of oil palm plantation.