A STUDY OF FACTORS AFFECTING THE QUANTITY AND PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY OF SALAK OF FARMER’S HOUSEHOLDS IN PA BON DISTRICT, PHATTHALUNG PROVINCE

Abstract

This research aims to analyse the costs and returns of salak (snake fruit) production and to examine the factors affecting production quantity, as well as the production efficiency of farmers in Pa Bon District, Phatthalung Province. Data were collected through systematic random sampling from 169 households cultivating at least 1 rai of salak. The study found that the total production cost of salak amounted to 68,529.30 THB per rai, comprising variable costs of 41,481.17 THB per rai and fixed costs of 27,048.13 THB per rai. Cash costs were recorded at 41,332.30 THB per rai, while non-cash costs were 27,197.00 THB per rai. Farmers earned total revenue of 140,790.82 THB per rai, resulting in a profit of 72,261.52 THB per rai.

          Additionally, the analysis of factors influencing salak production using the Cobb-Douglas production function model indicated that the farm-gate price of salak and the productive land area significantly influenced production quantity at significance levels of 0.10 and 0.01, respectively. The findings suggest that farmers are operating in a stage of increasing returns to scale. To echieve economic efficiency in salak production, salak cultivation area should be expanded to 9.25 rai per household.